By JESSICA BRICKER
A candidate for the Indiana House of Representatives has responded to “poor decisions” he said he made in 2014 as a sheriff’s deputy in Wells County.
In a letter to the editor Monday, Russ Mounsey apologized and asked for the public’s forgiveness following a News-Banner story Saturday that detailed disciplinary actions levied against him in 2015. At the time, he admitted to violating multiple policies of the Wells County Sheriff’s Department while engaging in sexual activities with a woman while on duty by using his police-issued vehicle, on which he reportedly disconnected the GPS software.
It was the first time the disciplinary documents had been discussed publicly by the woman named in them. Mounsey is running for the Statehouse in next month’s Republican primary.
“There are no words to express how much I regret my decisions,” Mounsey said in the letter, which is printed on Page 4 today. “I let down the department, my family and friends, but most importantly, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. My sin paints our police community in a bad light, and I take full responsibility for my poor decisions.”
He said when he decided to run for office, he knew his past actions would become public, and he struggled with the pain it would bring his family again.
“As I contemplated this heavy decision, I counted this cost against the monumental issues facing our communities across our country and the state of Indiana,” he said. “We are living in a time like no other, when our rights and freedoms are being threatened like never before. Our voices are being silenced. Our deeply held values disregarded.”
He said good people must take action against the “evil” coming at Americans.
“I entered this political race to stand in the gap for all of us against the threats to our liberties,” Mounsey said. “What I am facing is a small price to pay compared to those who have lost their lives through abortion and those who have given their lives serving our country.”
jessica@news-banner.com
