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Vauhxx Booker Facing Charges Over Last Year's Lake Monroe Incident

Vauhxx Booker

Bloomington resident Vauhxx Booker says several White men attacked him and shouted racial epithets during an outing near Lake Monroe. (Adam Pinsker, WFIU/WTIU News)

Vauhxx Booker has been charged with misdemeanor trespass and felony battery for his involvement in last year’s Fourth of July incident at Lake Monroe.

The charges were filed in Monroe Circuit Court on Friday, according to online court records, and line up with the charges suggested by the Department of Natural Resources after its investigation into the incident.

READ MORE: Black Man Reports Racist Assault At Lake Monroe

Booker made national news last summer after he claimed a group of white men jumped him and threatened to hang him as he was visiting Lake Monroe with some friends to celebrate the Fourth. He detailed the alleged attack in a Facebook post that went viral and was viewed millions of times online.

WATCH: What Happened Before The Incident At Lake Monroe? Here's What Vauhxx Booker Says

The ensuing investigation by the Department of Natural Resources recommended charges all around – for both the white men and Booker, but only the white men were charged.

Sean Purdy was charged with felony criminal confinement, battery and intimidation; Jerry Cox received felony charges of aiding criminal confinement and battery, along with misdemeanor charges of intimidation and battery.

Monroe County Prosecutor Erika Oliphant recused herself from the case after public outcry that she was favoring Booker. Then, Special Prosecutor Sonia Leerkamp took over the case. 

Leerkamp attempted to use restorative justice to keep the issue out of court, but the two sides could not come to an agreement.

A July 30 statement from the Monroe County branch of the NAACP said:

"She made clear from the start she would file charges against Booker if he didn't agree to her dismissing the case against Purdy. Booker refused for over a year. When Leerkamp finally figured out that Booker would not bend to her will, she filed these unjustified charges against him, after sitting on them for over a year, and with no new investigatory information to support them." 

READ MORE: One Year Later, Where Do Things Stand With The Incident At Lake Monroe?

An initial hearing is set for Sept. 14.

 

Booker Service Issued by Indiana Public Media News on Scribd

Vauhxx Booker Information.pdf by Indiana Public Media News on Scribd

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