Suspect pleads guilty to battery charge in motorcycle shooting case

A 43-year-old Putnam County man, scheduled for trial later this month in an attempted murder case, has reached a plea agreement that could send him to prison for up to 16 years.

Douglas Lee "Bam" Allsup Sr. of Greencastle -- who was facing charges of attempted murder and aggravated battery causing serious bodily injury in the July 24, 2018 shooting of motorcyclist Christopher R. Jordan, 47, Greencastle -- has pleaded guilty to the battery charge and is scheduled for sentencing June 6 in Putnam Circuit Court.

Douglas 'Bam' Allsup

Putnam County Prosecutor Tim Bookwalter said the plea agreement is open, meaning it comes without a sentencing recommendation. That leaves Putnam Circuit Court Judge Matt Headley the option of sentencing Allsup to a maximum of 16 years for shooting Jordan in the head last July. A Level 3 felony is punishable by 3-16 years in prison.

Bookwalter said the Jordan family is OK with the plea agreement.

He noted that Allsup's defense was that Jordan "came at him with the motorcycle" in the incident last summer.

"Originally they (investigators) thought it was a motorcycle accident," Bookwalter said of the incident in which Jordan was found lying near the intersection of North Jackson and Frazier streets on Greencastle's North Side with a significant head injury blamed on the crash.

Consequently, the area was not secured like a crime scene and no accident reconstruction was done.

After Jordan was taken via Stat Flight helicopter to St. Vincent Hospital at Indianapolis, however, a forensic nurse discovered the victim had actually suffered a gunshot wound to his head.

The victim, whose wound was initially feared life-threatening, survived the shooting and has been undergoing physical therapy.

Allsup was already in jail when he was charged in March in connection with the July 24 case. He has been in the Putnam County Jail since Aug. 3, held on charges of theft and auto theft, both Level 6 felonies.

A probable cause affidavit filed in the case notes that Allsup has "advised he did, in fact, shoot Chris Jordan with a high-point .45 caliber handgun."

The shooting reportedly occurred after he followed the victim from a residence at U.S. 231 and U.S. 40 to the Frazier Street location, presumably to confront Jordan about an ongoing disagreement.

When he reportedly told Jordan to get off the motorcycle, Allsup said that instead, Jordan allegedly swerved toward him. Allsup said he stepped aside and fired the handgun, wounding Jordan in the head, the probable cause affidavit notes.

The gun used in the shooting was later thrown into a river along the way to Indianapolis, Allsup said. According to court records, the handgun had been stolen from Jordan when Allsup also allegedly stole the victim's motorcycle in Bainbridge on July 7, 2018.

Local attorney Sid Tongret is serving as Allsup's legal counsel.