"UPDATE" Mikeworth was located in the red 2001 Ford Escape not Detective Minnicus as stated in the original release. Sorry for any confusion this may have caused. Original story follows this information with the correction.
Fowler-A suspect who tried to fake his own kidnapping is sentenced in Benton County Court on July 9, 2015 on two counts of False Informing a Class A Misdemeanor.
Cody R. Mikeworth, 25 of 307 West 4th Street in Fowler, was sentenced to two consecutive sentences of one year in the Benton County Jail with 60 days good time credit with the remainder of the time suspended. The charges stem from Mikeworth trying to fake his own kidnapping.
On February 4, 2015 Master Trooper Detective Tom Minnicus of the Lafayette Post Criminal Investigations Division was contacted by Fowler Police Chief Dennis Rice to assist in a possible kidnapping of Cody Mikeworth. Through the investigation, it was determined that Mikeworth may be located at a pole bar on CR 830 West CR 300 South in Newton County. Detective Minnicus with assistance from Sergeant Jerry Holeman also of the Lafayette Criminal Investigations Division and troopers from the Lowell State Police Post, located Mikeworth inside a red 2001 Ford Escape with his angles and one wrist tied by zip ties. Mikeworth was transported to Newton County Jail where he was interviewed by Detective Minnicus and Sgt. Holeman.
During the course of the interview, it was determined Mikeworth allegedly had faked his kidnapping to keep from going to court for not paying child support. He was left to the custody of the Newton County Jail on a warrant for failure to appear. The report for false informing was turned over to the Benton County Prosecutor’s Office for a review. A warrant was issued and Mikeworth was arrested by Fowler Police Department on the false informing charges.
Assisting in the case were the Fowler Police Department, Benton County Prosecutor’s Office, Benton County Sheriff’s Department and the Newton County Sheriff’s Department. Sorry, I do not have a photo of Mikeworth.
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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