Former Ingalls IN Chief Charged with Sex Crime

INDIANAPOLIS — Former Ingalls Fire Chief Brian Cushman was sexually involved with a 17-year-old girl going back to January, federal prosecutors allege in an indictment unsealed Friday, following an FBI and Indiana State Police investigation.

From then until June, the 29-year-old firefighter and girl shared sexually explicit photographs on Snapchat, a popular social media site, and exchanged explicit text messages on their cellphones, according to the federal indictment released by Josh Minkler, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana.

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Hints about the possibility of some kind of improper relationship between Cushman and underage girls emerged on June 9.

That's when a 14-year-old girl was found passed out on a sofa in the chief's home, and the 17-year-old girl was found in his driveway. Both teenagers had been drinking, authorities allege. The older girl was a participant in the fire department's cadet program.

Cushman was arraigned in Leitchfield, Kentucky, last week and released from custody by the U.S. Marshals Service. He returned home on GPS monitoring, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

He was charged with one count of child exploitation and could face up to 30 years in prison if convicted, according to the release.

"This office will not tolerate the sexual abuse of our children by those who are supposed to lead our children from positions of trust," Minkler said in a statement. "Giving a child a learning opportunity, career guidance, or athletic training should not come at a cost of a child's innocence."

The night of June 9, the father of the 17-year-old found his daughter in the driveway of Cushman's home, smelling of alcohol, according to the report. When he entered the house, according to the report and the initial internal investigation, the father found the 14-year-old unconscious.

Cushman told investigators, according to the report, that he had been at the fire station and came home to find the two girls intoxicated, and one passed out. When asked why he didn't call an ambulance, Cushman allegedly told investigators he wanted to fix the situation first.

He gave the girl oxygen, and after running out of his own supply, Cushman allegedly asked volunteer firefighter Logan Caulk to bring him more from the fire station. Caulk brought the oxygen and an inhaler.

Town officials initially suspended Caulk for his role in the incident, but acting Ingalls Fire Chief Jeremy Boat said Friday he's been restored to active duty status.

James Doty, an Ingalls police officer, however, did not fare so well.

He resigned from the department amid allegations he didn't file a report about the incident. Doty was suspended last year for mishandling a case involving a restraining order, Ingalls Town Council member Tim Green said.

After interviewing several witnesses and victims, ISP and FBI investigators determined that Cushman provided alcohol to two minors. Police also learned, reportedly, that Cushman had sexual contact with one of the minors.

Authorities searched Cushman’s residence and cellphone and discovered sexually explicit images of a minor and Cushman, the press release said. The images dated to January.

“The sexual victimization of a child is a heinous crime,” ISP Superintendent Doug Carter said in the release. “And in this particular case, it’s even worse the crime is alleged to have been committed by a public safety official that we encourage our youth to seek out when they need help.”

Moving forward, Boat said, the department has put a moratorium on the cadet program. Two current underage female cadets asked to remain on the force; a female firefighter has been promoted to oversee them.

The town of Ingalls released a statement Friday supporting the investigation and potential victims.

"The Town has full confidence that justice will be served where and when applicable. Chief Cushman was relieved of all duties with the department prior to full discovery of these charges," reads the statement. "At this time, our thoughts are with all those affected by these alleged abuses."

The town has struggled in the past with ethical failures by first responders.

In March 2017, then-police chief Rick Martin retired just days after returning from a five-day suspension stemming from a list of 14 alleged misdeeds, notably authorizing the purchase of a Dodge Charger in 2010 and a Ford Interceptor in 2012 for use by reserve officer John Graham. Green said the town council did not approve the purchases or know about them at the time.

— Herald Bulletin reporter Christopher Stephens contributed to this story.

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