Court docs unveil that Johnson County coroner bought teen girl alcohol, cannabis gummies

FRANKLIN, Ind. - Indiana State Police have been called in to investigate texts exchanged between Johnson County Coroner Mike Pruitt and a 17-year-old female high school student.




The request for the review came from Johnson County Sheriff Duane Burgess, who personally served Pruitt with a Protective Order approved and ordered by Special Judge David Riggins out of Shelby County on Aug. 20.




Mike Pruitt is a familiar face in Johnson and Marion counties, holding other high-profile positions, including former deputy chief of the Bargersville Fire Department, former public information officer for the Wayne Township Fire Department and a member of the elite Indiana Task Force One, which responds to major incidents around the country.




Now, Pruitt's texts are at the center of a state police investigation.

FOX59/CBS4 obtained the text messages through a request to Judge Riggins, who is assigned to the case. The court released a copy of the multiple messages. In them, Pruitt allegedly is texting with a 17-year-old girl. Her name has been redacted, but the contents of the texts say a lot.




In March, court documents say Pruitt bought eight cans of alcohol for the 17-year-old and her friend, both underage. He's also accused of recording a telephone call while the teen was intoxicated and later sent her a recording of it.




On June 16, court documents say Pruitt sent a text asking the teen, "Need some gummies?"




She texted back saying no because she had "greened out" - in other words, had a bad experience.




Pruit sent another text "with tips on how to avoid greening out when consuming cannabis gummies," according to the documents.




While at a 4-H pig show in Springfield, Illinois, on June 23, court documents say Pruitt bought the teen and her friend beers. A text sent later by Pruitt said, "Put some of your Coors Light beers in your plastic laundry bag in your closet."




On July 3, the teen's mother discovered Pruitt had been sending her daughter $50 per week through Venmo since September 2024. Court documents say the mother told Pruitt it was inappropriate and demanded he stop sending money.




On July 9, at 10:44 p.m., Pruitt allegedly texted the teen saying, "There's beer in the pool house if you need road beers."




The Johnson County Fair ran from July 13 through July 19.




On July 13, Pruitt texted the teen again, according to court documents. "I left you a couple of beers in the cooler."




The next day he sent several more texts to the teen, including one that said, "Heads up. There is word on the street that you three were intoxicated last night."




He later added, in a separate text, "You guys need to be careful."




On July 16, there was a flurry of texts in which Pruitt and the teen discuss alcohol, according to the documents. One allegedly sent by Pruitt at 10:42 p.m. says, "My cooler has your drinks in it," adding, "on the back of my truck."




Pruitt has not been charged with any crime in connection with these texts.




The protective order case will be heard in Johnson County, but it will be overseen by Special Judge Riggins.




Sheriff Duane Burgess released a statement about the investigation into Pruitt. The sheriff said, "to ensure transparency and maintain public confidence, the case was referred to the Indiana State Police for investigation. Our office will take no further role in this matter."




FOX59/CBS4 reached out to Pruitt's attorney, Russ Johnson, on Wednesday. Johnson said, "it would be improper to make a comment on a case that is potentially under investigation."




This past June, Pruitt was put on administrative paid leave with the Bargersville Fire Department after making a remark at a death scene that offended other public safety workers. Bargersville Fire Chief Eric Funkhouser stripped Pruitt of his deputy chief title and told him he could remain with the department in a different role on Aug. 1.




Pruitt voluntarily decided not to return to the new position. The situation currently under investigation is not connected to what happened in Bargersville.




A statement from the attorney representing the 17-year-old's family can be read below:




"On behalf of the victim of the protective order, we would like to respond to the reporting regarding this matter.  The family's primary concern is the safety and well-being of the victim, who has endured significant distress as a result of the circumstances leading to the issuance of the protective order.  Although the actions of the individual in question did not involve any sexual contact or sexual actions with the victim, such actions were nevertheless highly inappropriate and deeply concerning.   We kindly request that the media and the public respect the victim's privacy during this difficult time. The legal proceedings are ongoing, and we believe it is vital to allow the judicial process to unfold without undue interference or speculation. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in maintaining sensitivity towards this matter."





via: https://fox59.com/indiana-news/court-docs-unveil-that-johnson-county-coroner-bought-teen-girl-alcohol-cannabis-gummies/