ROBBERIES RESULT IN CONVICTIONS AND LENGTHY PRISON SENTENCES FOR THREE JEFFERSON COUNTY RESIDENTS

Targeted the victim for retribution over narcotics transaction

Jefferson County, Indiana (February 15, 2024) – Three Jefferson County residents have been convicted and sentenced to lengthy prison terms following a pair of robberies in January 2023, where a total of $315.00 was taken.

Joshua L. Johnson received a 17-year sentence, and Paige Melton was sentenced to 17 and ½ years. Additionally, James McCarty, who pleaded guilty in additional cases, received a 36-year sentence, with 26 years to be executed followed by 8 years of probation.

“Thanks to the swift response and thorough investigation by area law enforcement, we were able to hold these three defendants accountable," said Prosecutor David Sutter.

The incidents unfolded on January 24, 2023, when a male approached a deputy with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, reporting a robbery at gunpoint on Glad Street in Hanover. The investigation revealed that Melton had invited the victim to her house where he was accosted by three male individuals, including Joshua Johnson who held a gun to his head. The victim stated that he was ordered to provide his cell phone to the male subjects. He then reported being struck in the head by a tire iron. The victim was able to run out of the residence where he spotted a deputy at the Circle K gas station. He stopped to make a report. Due to the victim’s injuries, he was examined by NKDH EMS and was ultimately flown to UofL Hospital for treatment.

The investigation led law enforcement to execute a search warrant at Joshua Johnson’s residence where law enforcement located several blood stains and silver in color tire iron that was consistent with the report from the victim. The investigation also led law enforcement to obtain a search warrant for Joshua Johnson’s cell phone, which revealed communication between Joshua Johnson, McCarty, Melton, and Jayden Johnson regarding the robbery.

Further, the investigation revealed that Melton used the victim’s phone to transfer $295.00 from the victim’s cash app account to Jayden’s cash app account, before taking $200.00 for herself.

On that same night, the Sheriff’s Department was contacted by a man in Canaan, Indiana that reported being robbed at gunpoint by two male subjects. He identified one as McCarty and another male, later identified as Joshua Johnson. Melton revealed to law enforcement that they targeted the victim for retribution over a narcotics transaction. He stated that Joshua had a pistol on him and that they ordered the victim to his knees, taking his cell phone and wallet that contained $20.00 in cash.

Both robberies were investigated by Detective CJ Miller of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the City of Madison Police Department and the Town of Hanover Police Department.

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