Violent, Unprovoked Attack Puts Meth User In Prison

At his sentencing, the suspect said he had smoked meth earlier and blamed the attack on his drug use.

Jeffrey A. Henson. Photo by Franklin County Sheriff's Department.

(Laurel, Ind.) - A man has been sentenced six years for the meth-induced, unprovoked beating of another person in Laurel.

Jeffrey Henson, 24, brutally attacked a 55-year-old man in front of a liquor store in Laurel last May, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy John Roberts responded to the scene after three different 911 calls were made involving Henson. Roberts arrived on the scene soon after the attack. Henson was ordered to the ground, but refused the deputy’s commands. Roberts then used a taser on Henson to subdue him and place him in handcuffs.

The victim, who said he did not know Henson and had never seen or heard of him before, required several stitches and two staples to his head. He told police that Henson had pulled a knife and threatened to kill him just before the attack.

Franklin County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Chris Huerkamp says Henson pleaded guilty on August 4 to Battery Causing Serious Bodily Injury (level 5 felony), Intimidation while Armed with a Deadly Weapon (level 5 felony), and Resisting Law Enforcement (class A misdemeanor).

At a sentencing hearing on September 4, Henson admitted that he had smoked meth earlier that day and blamed his actions on his drug use. He and his attorney asked for a six year sentence with three years suspended to probation and to enter a drug treatment program while in prison which could have cut his time behind bars further.

However, Franklin County Circuit Court Judge Clay Kellerman sentenced Henson to maximum six years – all in prison. Huerkamp had asked for the max sentence emphasizing to the judge the random and vicious nature of the attack and Henson’s significant criminal history.

Huerkamp praised Deputy Roberts’ efforts in the case.

“Deputy Roberts was confronted with an extremely dangerous and violent individual under the influence of a very powerful drug, and should be commended for doing what was necessary at the scene to get this person under control and into police custody. Thanks to his thorough investigation of the matter, the prosecution had a strong case to bring to court and keep a repeat offender off the streets for a long time,” said the deputy prosecutor.

Huerkamp said the case illustrates the dangers of methamphetamine abuse and the volatile and often violent tendencies exhibited by users.

“When you see facts like these, for the safety of the law-abiding public, they just need to be locked up for a long time,” he said.

The beating victim was satisfied with the swift resolution of the case and the “tough justice meted out by the court,” Huerkamp added.