Former inmate denies violating probation

A Greencastle man who served time in prison for a 2003 jailhouse beating stands accused of violating his probation.

An evidentiary hearing in Putnam County Superior Court for Stephen E. Seketa, 28, has been set for Jan. 26. Seketa was arrested for the violation on Nov. 8, and was released from jail after denying the probation violation charge and posting 10 percent of a $15,000 bond on Nov. 10.

Seketa was convicted of aggravated battery and conspiracy to commit aggravated battery, both Class B felonies, on Feb. 12, 2004. Seketa took part in a beating at the Putnam County Jail, where he was an inmate, that left another inmate's kidney so damaged the organ had to be removed.

Seketa maintained in court that he never touched the victim in that case.

Court records allege that Putnam County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Charles Inman was on foot patrol around 1:25 a.m. on Nov. 8 when "my attention was immediately drawn to a loud commotion in the city-owned parking lot located on the northwest corner of the intersection of Vine and Walnut streets."

Inman wrote in his report that he witnessed Seketa rev the engine of the 4X4 pickup truck he was driving and squeal the tires as he proceeded through the parking lot.

Inman walked to the parking lot exit, where he signaled for Seketa to stop the vehicle. Inman had to repeatedly ask Seketa to turn his vehicle off, at which time court records said Seketa began to plead with Inman to "let him go." Seketa performed field sobriety tests and continued to plead with Inman for leniency.

Seketa was found to have a blood alcohol content of .108 after taking a portable breath test, court records said. He refused to submit to chemical testing.

Seketa's 2003 sentence was for 20 years on each count, with 10 years executed. With sentence modifications and good time credit, he was released from prison on Sept. 20, 2007.

Any part of the sentence Seketa did not serve could be reinstated if it is found that he violated his probation.

Seketa's criminal history in Putnam County also includes a Class C felony battery conviction in December 2003; a Class A misdemeanor conversion conviction in July 2004; and various traffic violations.