Dubois County man gets probation after guilty plea in lieutenant governor threat case

A Dubois County man accused of sending threatening messages to Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith was sentenced Tuesday to nearly a year of probation after pleading guilty to felony intimidation.

Joshua Wasson, 25, of Jasper, pleaded guilty in Dubois Circuit Court to one Level 6 felony count of intimidation and misdemeanor charges of possessing marijuana and paraphernalia. A second felony intimidation charge and a misdemeanor harassment charge were dismissed under the plea agreement.

Judge Nathan A. Verkamp sentenced Wasson to 544 days on the intimidation count, suspending 364 days to supervised probation. The court awarded 90 days of credit for time served and another 90 days of good time credit, satisfying the 180-day unsuspended portion.

Wasson also received concurrent sentences of 180 days for marijuana possession and 60 days for paraphernalia possession. Court records show both misdemeanor sentences already completed.

The probation order bars Wasson from direct or indirect contact with Beckwith and requires him to complete anger management counseling within six months. He must also undergo substance abuse and mental health assessments and complete any recommended treatment.

If Wasson completes probation without any revocations, he can petition the court to reduce the intimidation conviction to a Class A misdemeanor. That change would require court approval.

“I am thankful that the defendant, Mr. Wasson, was brought to justice in this case,” Beckwith said in a statement to the Indiana Capital Chronicle. “I would also like to thank the Indiana State Police and Dubois County Prosecutor Beth Schroeder for their work. This was an important case because it shows that people cannot make serious violent threats from behind a keyboard and expect no consequences. I believe Mr. Wasson will now get the help he needs during his supervised probation.”

The case began April 30, when Indiana State Police arrested Wasson after investigating social media posts and messages directed at Beckwith. Police said investigators interviewed Wasson at his workplace and found suspected marijuana and paraphernalia while retrieving items from his vehicle.

Beckwith said at the time that the messages began in March and escalated before the arrest.

Court records show Wasson began GPS-monitored pretrial home detention May 1. The court lifted that requirement July 28, when a written plea agreement was filed, but kept his other release conditions in place.