A former co-owner of Vat & Barrel, a popular bar in downtown Seymour, was arrested Monday, March 18, on seven counts of battery after multiple women came forward with complaints about his actions.
Marc Fletcher Gebhart, 67, of the 700 block of 2nd Street in Columbus was charged with seven misdemeanor counts of battery. He was booked into the Jackson County Jail at 2:56 p.m. and was released at 3:08 p.m. after posting a $355 bond.
The incident that started the investigation began in January of 2023 when a woman. who was working at Vat & Barrel, said Gebhart touched her inappropriately while out at another local bar.
After the video was obtained by the woman, she tried to file a police report with Seymour Police Department, but said she was told she couldn’t because of a conflict of interest, according to court records. At the time an off-duty officer with the Seymour Police Department worked part-time at the restaurant.
According to the 37-page probable cause affidavit filed by Detective Derek Eggers with the Indiana State Police, incidents of Gebhart making sexual comments and actions toward female workers began as early as 2020, but was not investigated until one filed a police report on Feb. 9 of this year.
Throughout the probable cause multiple women shared their experiences and witnesses reported interactions that involved Gebhart with employees as well as customers.
Vat & Barrel opened July 4, 2020, by Tom Gray and Gebhart, and was closed Feb. 9 of this year.
After multiple women came to Gray, he decided to confront Gebhart for his actions to which he denied everything, according to the probable cause.
Gray said he closed the restaurant because if he did not close he felt like it would be condoning Gebhart’s behavior.
According to the probable cause, Gray said the two met with an accountant to discuss separation of ownership. Gray said the accountant noted there was approximately $51,000 in funds that were not accounted for.
Gray posted on the Vat & Barrel Facebook page the bar and restaurant will reopen April 5 with him as the sole owner.
Jackson Superior Court 1 Judge AmyMarie Travis recused herself in the case. Prosecutor Jeff Chalfant and defense attorney Lynsey N. Fleetwood selected Scott Circuit Court Judge Jason Mount as the special judge. Gebhart has an initial hearing before Judge Jason Mount at 1 p.m. April 9 at the Jackson Superior Court 1 in Brownstown.