What Parents Need to Know About Indiana's Underage Alcohol Laws (and What to Do If You’re Accused)

Johnson County, Indiana: When a sitting county coroner gets slapped with 14 criminal charges for allegedly providing alcohol to minors and engaging in what prosecutors describe as predatory behavior, you know we're dealing with serious legal territory. The Johnson County Coroner Mike Pruitt case isn't just another headline: it's a wake-up call for parents and a stark reminder that Indiana doesn't mess around when it comes to protecting minors from adults who cross the line.

On October 11, 2025, Pruitt faced the music with seven counts of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor and seven counts of Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor. But here's what really gets my blood boiling: this wasn't some one-time mistake. According to court documents, this was a 14-month pattern of alleged predatory behavior that continued even after he was told to back off.

The Disturbing Timeline: How a Public Official Allegedly Became a Predator

Let's cut through the legal jargon and talk about what really happened here. Starting in June 2024, Pruitt allegedly began what can only be described as a grooming operation targeting a 16-year-old girl. This wasn't casual mentorship: this was calculated manipulation.

The pattern was textbook predatory behavior:

• Financial control: Weekly $50 Venmo payments to a minor
• Electronic surveillance: Using Life360 to track the teenager's location
• Expensive gifts: Purchasing three pigs for the girl to show at fairs
• Secretive behavior: Text messages instructing the teen to "hide beer from your mother"
• Persistence despite warnings: Continuing contact after the mother told him to stop

When the girl's mother confronted Pruitt in July 2024 and told him to cease all contact, any reasonable adult would have respected those boundaries. Instead, prosecutors allege he escalated his behavior, following the family to events and calling from different phone numbers when his primary number was blocked.

This isn't just about a few beers. This is about an adult in a position of authority allegedly using that position to manipulate and control a minor. The fact that five deputy coroners resigned over these allegations tells you everything you need to know about how serious this situation is.

What These Charges Really Mean

Let's break down what prosecutors are alleging here, because if you're facing similar accusations, you need to understand exactly what you're up against.

Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor isn't just about providing alcohol. In Indiana, this charge covers any behavior that encourages or enables a minor to engage in illegal or immoral conduct. In Pruitt's case, prosecutors are alleging he created an environment where the teenager was encouraged to lie to her parents, hide evidence of illegal activity, and maintain a secretive relationship with an adult.

Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor is exactly what it sounds like, but the evidence here is damning. Court documents detail specific instances where Pruitt allegedly provided various alcoholic beverages, including video evidence showing the teens appearing intoxicated in his truck. That's not just circumstantial evidence; it's prosecutors trying to build a bulletproof case.

Indiana's Zero-Tolerance Approach to Underage Alcohol Laws

Indiana doesn't play games when it comes to protecting minors, and the penalties reflect that commitment. Here's what you're looking at if convicted:

For Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor:

• Up to 180 days in jail
• Fines up to $1,000
• Permanent criminal record
• Professional license implications
• Potential civil liability if the minor causes harm

For Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor:

• Similar jail time and fines
• Enhanced penalties for repeat offenses
• Possible supervised probation
• Mandatory counseling or treatment programs

But here's what really makes these cases dangerous: social host liability. Even if you didn't directly hand alcohol to a minor, you can still face criminal charges and civil lawsuits if underage drinking occurs on your property or under your supervision.

The only exception Indiana recognizes is for parents providing alcohol to their own children in a private residence. That exception does not extend to other people's children, regardless of whether you have the parents' permission.

How Prosecutors Pursue These Cases (And Why They're So Aggressive)

Prosecutors love these cases because they're usually straightforward to prove and generate positive publicity. When a case involves a public official like a county coroner, prosecutors are going to throw everything they have at it.

Here's their playbook:

1. Electronic evidence: Text messages, Venmo transactions, location data from apps like Life360
2. Witness testimony: The minors involved, their parents, and anyone who witnessed the alleged behavior
3. Video evidence: In this case, footage showing intoxicated minors in the defendant's vehicle
4. Pattern evidence: Multiple incidents over time showing deliberate, repeated violations

Prosecutors in the Pruitt case have all of this evidence, which is why they're confident enough to file 14 separate charges. They're not looking for a plea deal at this time: they're going for maximum impact. Then, per usual, they will offer some type of plea, maybe even diversion, because of his lack of criminal history.

The Consequences Are More Devastating Than You Think

Even though these are "just" misdemeanors, the real-world consequences can destroy your life:

Professional Destruction: Public officials facing these charges often lose their positions, even if not convicted. Teachers, healthcare workers, and anyone working with children will face license revocation proceedings.

Social Destruction: In today's social media world, these accusations follow you forever. Your reputation in the community is finished, regardless of the legal outcome.

Financial Destruction: Legal fees, fines, lost income, and potential civil lawsuits can bankrupt families.

Family Destruction: These charges tear apart marriages and destroy relationships with your own children.

Why You Need  an Aggressive Indianapolis Criminal Defense Lawyer From Day One

If you're facing accusations like these, you cannot afford to wait or hope things blow over. Prosecutors are building their case from the moment allegations surface, and every day you wait is another day they're gathering evidence against you.

Here's what you need immediately:

• Invoke your right to remain silent: Don't try to "explain" or "clarify" anything to police
• Stop all contact with alleged victims and their families
• Preserve all evidence: Don't delete anything, but don't volunteer anything either
• Get aggressive legal representation: This isn't the time for a lawyer who wants to "cooperate" with prosecutors

The Pruitt case shows exactly why you can't handle these accusations alone. Despite being in a position of authority and presumably having access to legal advice, he allegedly made admissions during a recorded phone conversation that prosecutors are now using against him.

Red Flags Every Parent Must Recognize

The Pruitt case provides a textbook example of grooming behavior that every parent needs to recognize:

• Adult showing unusual interest in your child: Especially with expensive gifts or financial support
• Secretive communication: Adults who insist on private communication with your child
• Attempts to undermine parental authority: Encouraging your child to hide activities from you
• Persistence despite boundaries: Adults who don't respect when you tell them to stop
• Electronic monitoring: Using apps or technology to track your child's location

If any adult is displaying these behaviors with your child, trust your instincts and take action immediately.

The Bottom Line: Don't Let Prosecutors Destroy Your Life

The Johnson County Coroner case is a perfect storm of electronic evidence, witness testimony, and prosecutorial aggression. If you're facing similar accusations, you're looking at the same weapons being turned against you. You need to hire an aggressive Indiana Criminal Defense Attorney.

These cases move fast, evidence disappears, and prosecutors don't give second chances. Every day you wait is another day they're building a case designed to destroy your life, your career, and your family.

If you or someone you know is facing accusations of providing alcohol to minors, contributing to delinquency, or any charges involving children,   contact the Law Office of Mark Nicholson immediately at (317) 219-3402. Don't let prosecutors railroad you with charges that could destroy everything you've worked for. Call now for aggressive criminal defense that fights back.