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Terre Haute man facing three felonies in Travel Plaza case
By ERIC BERNSEE
Editor
A homeless Terre Haute man is facing three felony charges as a result of a Dec. 9 incident in which a bogus $100 bill was passed at the Cloverdale Travel Plaza.
Taiwan Duprice Richards, 38, who is lodged in the Putnam County Jail, made an initial appearance in Putnam Superior Court Wednesday on charges of:
-- Possession of marijuana (with a prior conviction), a Class D felony punishable by six months to three years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.
-- Counterfeiting, also a Class D felony.
-- Theft (of gasoline), another Class D felony.
Judge Denny Bridges entered not-guilty pleas on Richards' behalf and order him held on $10,000 cash bond on the recommendation of Deputy Prosecutor Justin Long.
Long told the court Richards "might be habitual" (as in a habitual offender whose criminal history could result in an enhanced sentence).
In court, Richards tried tell the judge he was an uninvolved backseat passenger among four occupants of a vehicle that reportedly drove off after pumping gasoline at the Cloverdale Travel Plaza at U.S. 231 and Interstate 70.
"Someone else drove off," the defendant said, proclaiming his innocence before the judge urged him to refrain from saying anything further in front of the prosecution.
However, according to court documents filed in the case, Richards was the suspect who reportedly entered the Travel Plaza about 9 p.m. and paid for $19.85 worth of gas with a $100 bill that was later determined to be counterfeit.
He was positively identified by the gas station attendants, although another passenger in the vehicle, Anthony Sheehy, 28, Terre Haute, was later found to be the only occupant of the car with cash ($300 in mostly $20 bills) on him.
After realizing the $100 bill presented by the suspect was bogus, a Travel Plaza employee followed the silver Chevrolet Suburban, driven by Surfnee Kizer, 31, Terre Haute, as it headed westbound on I-70.
The gas station employee told police a male passenger in the SUV flashed a silver-plated handgun at her prior to the vehicle turning onto the interstate.
A short time later, Putnam County Sheriff's Deputy Philip Troyer stopped the SUV at the Brazil exit of I-70 with help from State Police Troopers Brian Thomas and Michael Featherling and Clay County deputies.
Authorities were unable to locate any weapon in the vehicle and released the other three suspects before taking Richards into custody.
The defendant initially gave Deputies Troyer and Matt Biggs the name Darrell Jackson but later recanted and offered his real name. He told police that despite being the one who presented the fake $100 bill to the cashier (as captured on video), it was not his money.
At the Putnam County Jail, two small baggies of marijuana (less than 30 grams overall) were found in Richards' sock during his processing, resulting in the possession charge.
Greencastle attorney Trudy Selvia has been appointed as defense counsel for Richards, whose next court appearance was set for 10 a.m. Feb. 6.