An Indiana man has been arrested after allegedly making threatening statements on social media toward a State Representative. The Indiana State Police announced that 55-year-old Robert Bennett faces four counts of intimidation, each a Level 6 felony.
The threats were reportedly directed at Representative Jim Lucas, a Republican from Seymour. Lucas has been the subject of recent controversy, including a 2023 guilty plea for operating a vehicle while intoxicated. In January 2024, he also faced backlash after a video appeared to show him flashing a holstered firearm at high school students during a visit to the Indiana Statehouse.
As part of the investigation, a search warrant was secured through Vigo Superior Court Division 1. Police executed the warrant, leading to Bennett’s arrest. He was transported to the Vigo County Jail, where he is being held on a $50,000 bond.
Bennett is scheduled to appear for his initial hearing on Wednesday morning in Vigo County court.
Last month, the Indiana House Veterans Affairs and Public Safety Committee passed a bill in a 12-1 vote that would encourage local law enforcement agencies to collaborate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) through the 287(g) program. This initiative trains and deputizes local officers to carry out certain ICE functions within prisons and jails.
State Rep. Chris Jeter (R-Fishers) voiced strong support for the measure, stating, “These types of operations are going to be happening around the country, and I think our local law enforcement officials would benefit, our communities would benefit from training on how to handle those situations.”
This bill follows the failure of a previous proposal that sought to mandate all county law enforcement agencies to participate in the program. Instead, the current measure would establish a grant system through the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) to help fund agencies that choose to participate voluntarily.
