JOHNSON COUNTY — The Johnson County coroner appeared in court via video for his initial hearing and has since bonded out of jail on charges that he provided alcohol to a teenager.
During the formal initial hearing, Pruitt entered a not guilty plea. The court set bond at $3,000 cash only, with the requirement that two no-contact orders be in place and served before he could bond out.
A pretrial hearing is scheduled for December 9, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. in Hancock County Superior Court No. 2.
Pruitt had surrendered to jail Tuesday morning at approximately 11:40 a.m. and was initially booked without bond, according to the Johnson County Sheriff's Office.
Details of the allegations
Pruitt faces seven counts of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor and seven counts of Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor. The Johnson County Prosecutor's Office filed the charges following an Indiana State Police investigation.
Pruitt continues to serve as Johnson County Coroner while facing the criminal charges. His office has been embroiled in controversy for months, with multiple staff members resigning from the department.
The case remains ongoing in Johnson County courts.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the allegations stem from Pruitt's interactions with the teenager, who was 16 when the incidents began.
Pruitt allegedly purchased three pigs specifically for the teen to show at county and state fairs, beginning their interactions in May 2024.
The affidavit details seven specific incidents where Pruitt allegedly provided alcohol to the teen and her teenage cousin between June 2024 and July 2025.
The incidents allegedly included providing alcohol during a pig show in Springfield, Illinois, and various other alcoholic beverages at his residence and other locations.
Video shows both teens allegedly appearing intoxicated in Pruitt's truck, and the affidavit includes text message interactions showing Pruitt allegedly instructing the teen to hide alcohol from her mother, with one message reading "Put some of your Coors Light beers in your plastic laundry bag in your closet."
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Additional information alleges an audio recording where Pruitt discussed concealing alcohol consumption from the teen's mother and video footage of the teens consuming alcohol while appearing intoxicated.
Court records allege Pruitt had been sending the teen $50 per week through Venmo payments, which continued even after her mother discovered them and reportedly told him to stop.
The documents also detail Pruitt's alleged use of the Life360 app to track the teen's location and his pattern of appearing at places where he knew she would be, despite her telling him she felt "smothered."
In July 2024, documents report the girl's mother confronted Pruitt and told him there could be no further contact with her daughter. During a July 20 phone conversation, Pruitt allegedly admitted to purchasing alcohol for the teenager.
Despite being told to cease contact, Pruitt allegedly continued attempting to reach the teen, including following the family to events and calling from different phone numbers.
The case was referred to Indiana State Police for investigation due to a conflict of interest within the Johnson County jurisdiction.
Dustin Huddleston, attorney for the victim's family, sent the following statement on their behalf:
On behalf of the victim and her family, I am issuing this statement to address the recent development regarding the criminal charges filed against the suspect involved in the crime against the victim and the subsequent arrest. This has been an incredibly challenging time for the victim and their family. The charges filed and the arrest of the suspect marks a significant step, and we believe it is crucial to allow the legal process to take its course and ensure that justice is served. We kindly ask the media to respect the victim and their family’s privacy during this time. We extend our deepest gratitude to the law enforcement officers, the special prosecutor and court for their dedication and hard work. Their efforts have brought us to this point, and their commitment to their profession is commendable. We also want to thank the community for supporting us throughout this process.
