Hoovler
A Franklin man who escaped home detention last year was sentenced to 20.5 years in prison Monday for various charges under an enhanced penalty.
Caleb A. Hoovler, 35, was sentenced on charges of escape, possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, possession of a narcotic drug, two counts of possession of a controlled substance and possession of paraphernalia.
Hoovler accepted a plea agreement for those charges on March 10 in Johnson County Circuit Court. His charges were elevated because he had prior convictions for battery causing serious bodily injury, a previous possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, and for being a habitual traffic violator, according to court records.
Hoovler’s charges stem from a Greenwood police traffic stop the night of Nov. 9 near the intersection of Main Street and U.S. 31 after they observed a black 2001 Chevy Tahoe with an illegal license plate and frame, according to a probable cause affidavit.
In a search of the vehicle, officers found two handguns, one of which was reported stolen, a sawed-off shotgun, a baggie of brown powder-like substance believed to be heroin, a baggie of mushrooms, a smoking pipe with residue, two digital scales with drug residue and a small baggie of white powder-like substance, according to court documents.
They also found multiple rounds of ammunition and a bulletproof vest in the back passenger’s seat of the vehicle. Police asked why he had the body armor, and he said it was for protection, court documents show.
Hoovler admitted at the hearing to being involved in an Indianapolis gang, according to a Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office news release.
Prosecutors requested an aggravated sentence due to his history of violent criminal activity and prior unsuccessful attempts at rehabilitation. Judge Andrew Roesener agreed with the prosecution’s request and handed down an aggravated prison sentence of 20.5 years.
Hoovler was sentenced to 2.5 years for the escape charge, and 18 years for the other five charges at an aggravated level.
“We are grateful for the lengthy sentence imposed in this case and are glad that the citizens of Johnson County won’t be endangered by this serial criminal for a long time,” Johnson County Prosecutor Joe Villanueva said in a statement.
