Two Austin men who were fishing without the owner’s permission in a private pond ended up being charged with possession of methamphetamine and other drug offenses by Indiana Conservation Officers earlier this month.
Booked into Scott County Jail were:
Justin T. Mullins 33, of the 2700 block of Frontage Road in Austin charged with felony possession of methamphetamine and felony possession of a syringe.
James Lee Strobl, 47, of the 90 block of Rural Street in Austin was charged with felony possession of methamphetamine and a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Conservation Officer Claire Mitchell was called to the 1800 block of Wooster Road in northeast Scott County on Tuesday evening, Sept. 3, on the report of an abandoned vehicle in a field. The 2012 black Honda Accord had a note on it that read “Gone fishing be back soon” according to the Probable Cause affidavit.
According to the officer, none of the area property owners had given permission to park or fish on the property.
Officer Mitchell, along with Conservation Officers Zach Walker and Logan Carter began searching for the occupants of the vehicle. Around 8:19 p.m. they met up with three men walking toward the car with fishing poles, on was carrying a large mouth bass, officers reported.
When asked if they had permission to fish in the pond or park on the property, James Strobl responded that his friend had permission from a long time ago, according to the court document.
Another of the trio, Justin Mullins advised officers that he had gotten permission 15 years ago from a man who died. Mullins acknowledged that he had not asked for permission in at least two and a half years and could not provide the name of the person he had asked.
ICO Walker asked the third man, Harold Brewer for permission to search his fishing bag. Both Strobl and Mullins gave permission for officers to search their fishing bags. Mullins told the officers he had some needles in a compartment in his fishing bag.
Searching the bag officers found two plastic bags with white crystal substance, multiple syringes containing a small amount of clear liquid and blood, an overdose revival kit containing medical supplies and Narcan, a blue rubber tourniquet, and a metal jar with a white powdery substance.
In searching Strobl’s wallet, officers located s clear plastic bag with while crystal substance, a rubber tourniquet, a small metal spoon with a white crystal substance.
Both were booked into jail around 9:30 p.m. brewer was not charged. In their initial hearings on Sept. 6, Scott Circuit Court Judge Jason Mount set Strobl’s bond at $35,000. The judge set Mullins bond at $25,000.