Frisbie's federal court date set

Thursday, December 31, 2009
Frisbie

GREENCASTLE -- Former Putnam County Sheriff Mark T. Frisbie will be in federal court Jan. 22.

Frisbie, 39, is accused of violating the terms of his federal probation. A hearing on the alleged violation will take place in the United States District Court in Indianapolis.

Indiana State troopers arrested Frisbie in Putnam County on Dec. 4 when they stopped a vehicle Frisbie was driving. According to court records, the stop happened because police observed Frisbie driving erratically.

Frisbie, who was on federal probation for a November 2008 conviction on a charge of federal program theft, was found to have a blood alcohol content of .27 -- more than three times Indiana's legal limit.

Frisbie was taken to the Putnam County Jail, but due to his high level of intoxication was transported to the Putnam County Hospital for evaluation. After he was released from the hospital, he was booked into jail, where he spent several hours before posting a $3,000 surety bond for his release.

Frisbie was charged with Class C misdemeanor operating while intoxicated, Class B misdemeanor public intoxication and Class A misdemeanor operating with at least .15 grams of alcohol in 210 liters. He was also cited for two infractions, open alcohol container and driving left of center.

Frisbie resigned as Putnam County sheriff in August 2008 amid allegations that he had embezzled money from the sheriff's department. He was convicted in November 2008 of federal program theft, and entered the United States Penitentiary satellite camp in Atlanta, Ga. On Feb. 2.

He was released from the camp on March 31, and served four months on home detention before beginning a two-year term of federal probation.

Frisbie has retained attorney Darrell Felling of Greencastle to represent him locally. A trial on the Putnam County charges is set for April 7 in Putnam County Superior Court.

As a term of Frisbie's bond, Judge Charles Bridges has ordered that Frisbie refrain from consuming any alcohol or entering any establishment that serves alcohol.

Comments
View 7 comments
Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. Please note that those who post comments on this website may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.
  • Leave the man alone it is not like everyone else is perfect you just have not been caught and splashed all over the front page

    -- Posted by fighting mad on Thu, Dec 31, 2009, at 12:54 AM
  • My Grandson, (Xavier Gameretti III) asked me; "Grandpa X, when you were a boy, did you have internet blogs?"

    "No", I replied.

    "How did you publicly bash the local felons and politicians when their careers became eventful?", said X3.

    I said, "Well, we gathered around the jail, or courthouse in person. Then we took turns shouting out insults and venting our frustrations towards the people of interest."

    "Wow, Grandpa X, they could hear you? You said it to their faces?, asked X3.

    "Not really, we kept our distance and stood as a mob. That way, we were still as anonymous with our comments as we are in todays blogs." I said.

    "Wow, were your shouts and venting effective Grandpa?", ansked X3.

    "Nope. Not at all. But people got really worked up and sometimes it was quite entertaining. Now you try, think hard and make a comment about Frisbie." I said.

    "Wow, OK, here goes,,, Hospital evaluation? with a .27 BAC the evaluation should have read 'Pickled'" said X3.

    I laughed and said, "Good one. You should register your own screen name!"

    -- Posted by Xgamer on Thu, Dec 31, 2009, at 6:56 AM
  • I think it is great that he is being made a spectical of since he was a horrible person as a Sheriff thinking he was above the law.... He treated people like dogs in his jail when he was Sheriff....

    -- Posted by Innocent on Thu, Dec 31, 2009, at 8:04 AM
  • Is that help and hope for ANY erring person or just a certain few? And alcoholism is a dis-ease and as in anything in excess be that alcohol, drugs,sex,money or religion... Why would the man not be embarrassed? Who wouldn't be? He is a brave soul for trying to live in this community. I say 'fighting mad' is right....leave the man alone.

    -- Posted by citizenoftheworld on Thu, Dec 31, 2009, at 11:18 AM
  • It is my understanding that Mark has repaid the money he stole. The alcoholism is another matter. He certainly needs help in this area of his life. I wish him well. He has certainly wasted a lot of opportunities that he had that many of us do not get. Please, Putnam County, ease up on the "vengeance" retoric. There, but for the grace of God, go us.

    -- Posted by not gullible on Thu, Dec 31, 2009, at 12:21 PM
  • .27 thats crazy!, feel sorry for him?, If he plowed into your familys vehicle would you still feel sorry for him??, Or would you want him to be locked up??? Bridges is telling him not to drink do you folks really believe that this is going to be followed???? I think not!

    -- Posted by 1stamendrights on Thu, Dec 31, 2009, at 12:31 PM
  • I hope that Mark gets the help that he needs. He has already suffered and will continue to suffer. I believe that a person should experience the consequences of their actions. That is how they learn and how they are motivated to grow and change for the better. The legal system will decide what his payment is for his crimes. He should make restitution. He should not be made into a public punching bag. Mark is not an evil person. He is an alcoholic and a flawed human being. We are all flawed human beings. Taking joy in others faults is not good for anyone. I am not suggesting he should "get out of jail free" but we would be better off to forgive. Society and individuals are better off when we help each other instead of tearing each other down.

    -- Posted by marigold on Thu, Dec 31, 2009, at 1:14 PM