Three people who were facing criminal charges in Johnson County courts have pled guilty and been sentenced for charges including prostitution and operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
The Daily Journal has previously reported about these cases and is sharing this update to give resolution to our earlier reporting on crime in the community.
2 sentenced for prostitution
Two Indianapolis women who offered sex for a fee in Franklin were sentenced to probation.
Arron Nichole Kimbrell, 45, pled guilty to prostitution as a Class A misdemeanor before Johnson Superior Court 3 Judge Douglas Cummins on Feb. 14. She was sentenced the same day to 365 days, of which 357 days were suspended to active probation. She previously served four days in prison and was ordered to serve another four days, according to online court records.
Kimbrell was arrested with Laci Ann Bishop, 54, in October. On Oct. 16, detectives found Kimbrell in an advertisement on a website known for prostitution. Kimbrell allegedly wrote in the advertisement that she would not accept cash for sexual services because it was illegal, but would “accept donations for [her] time,” according to court documents.
An undercover detective texted Kimbrell, and on the morning of Oct. 20, an undercover detective allegedly received a call from Kimbrell and asked about meeting up with her and another woman for sex. The other woman, identified as Bishop, later confirmed both of them would be there, according to court documents.
They got off the phone so they could find a location to meet. A few minutes later, Kimbrell reportedly called back to set a time to meet that afternoon and told the undercover detective how much it would cost. An agreement was then made, court documents show.
When the undercover detective met with Kimbrell and Bishop at their set location, a vehicle in the area of the 2000 block of E. King St. in Franklin, the detective asked if they wanted the money upfront, and Kimbrell allegedly said yes. After receiving the money, both women began to undress and the detective gave a signal for them to be arrested. They were subsequently taken into custody, according to the documents.
The entire encounter was also recorded.
Bishop initially denied any part of being involved in a sexual act for money. When detectives spoke with Kimbrell, they say she admitted to arranging the encounter, driving to the location with Bishop and said that both she and Bishop agreed to have sex with the undercover detective, court documents show.
Bishop pled guilty to prostitution with a prior conviction, a Level 6 felony, on Feb. 29 in Johnson Superior Court 3. She was sentenced the same day to 545 days, of which 537 days were suspended to active probation. She previously served four days in prison and was ordered to serve another four days, online court records show.
Man sentenced for chase
A New Whiteland man who led police on a chase that ended on Indianapolis’ southside last year will spend roughly 4.5 years on probation.
Cory D. Vandegriff, 35, pled guilty to operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a prion conviction and resisting law enforcement using a vehicle, both Level 6 felonies, along with resisting law enforcement, leaving the scene of an accident, reckless driving and being a vehicular substance offender before Johnson Circuit Court Judge Andy Roesener on Feb. 22. Vandegriff was sentenced to about 2.5 years, 10 days of which were to be served in jail, with 360 days on work release and 540 days suspended to probation. His sentence was enhanced by three additional years of probation, meaning he will ultimately serve about 4.5 years on probation, according to online court records.
Vandegriff’s license was also suspended for two years, effective May 31, 2023, online court records show.
Greenwood police were called to McDonald’s, 2252 S. U.S. Highway 31, on a report of property damage on May 21, 2023. An employee reported that an intoxicated man driving a red pickup truck attempted to order a meal at the drive-thru. The man hopped the curb and struck the menu board before bending the menu board back and leaving the scene, according to a Greenwood Police Department report.
Approximately 10 minutes later, police saw a truck matching the description of the truck from the McDonald’s crash driving north on Emerson Avenue at a high rate of speed. Police attempted to catch up to the vehicle, and the driver appeared to be unable to maintain his lane.
Eventually, the driver went northbound on Interstate 65 before turning onto eastbound Interstate 465. While on the interstate, the truck passed “dangerously close” to a semi while still at a high rate of speed with a flat tire. The truck exited on Emerson Avenue and tried to go southbound. However, police say the driver overshot the southbound lanes and struck the raised center median, causing the truck to briefly go airborne.
The truck then ended up in a wooded area behind a gas station on the 4000 block of S. Emerson Avenue in Indianapolis. The driver, later identified as Vandegriff was still sitting in the driver’s seat. Officers ordered him out of the vehicle at gunpoint, but he allegedly ignored their commands and began digging around the vehicle, according to the report.
Eventually, Vandegriff opened the driver’s side door. A short time later, an officer and his K-9 partner entered the wooded area to find Vandegriff. He was later located hiding in thick underbrush near his wrecked vehicle, the report says
Police say Vandegriff continued to ignore officers’ commands, and officers eventually dragged him out of the bush. He resisted officers’ attempts to place him in handcuffs, and a few minutes later, officers were finally able to get him handcuffed.
