Tuesday, February 7th, 2012
Family members nabbed for stealing hogs from area farm
By Margie Wuebker
Four family members face charges relating to the rustling of hogs from an area farm.
Ricky L. Crouch, 50, of Bryant, Ind., and his 28-year-old son, Chad M. Crouch, 537 Touvelle St., Celina, were booked into the Mercer County Detention Facility this morning for breaking and entering, fifth-degree felonies.
Also incarcerated were their wives, Lisa R. Crouch, 42, of Bryant, and 29-year-old Christina L. Crouch, of the Touvelle Street address, for receiving stolen property, first-degree misdemeanors.
The Mercer County Sheriff's Office had received reports of nearly two dozen hogs being taken from a farm along State Line Road near Fort Recovery over the course of 10 weeks. The subsequent investigation ultimately determined the porkers were bound for market.
The men allegedly took the 130-pound animals from a barn after dark. They apparently loaded them into the back of a Chevy S10 pickup truck equipped with a camper top and drove to the Bryant address.
The women were taken into custody Monday at an area livestock company, where they attempted to sell some of the animals.
The incident led local authorities to request a search warrant at the home of Ricky and Lisa Crouch, where more stolen hogs were located.
The father and son also face breaking and entering charges in Jay County as a result of the joint investigation between Mercer and Jay county authorities.
The hogs are reportedly owned by Cooper Farms.
