TERRE HAUTE —
A man who supplied the gun used in the July 2011 shooting death of a Terre Haute police officer has received an 18-month sentence in federal prison.
And a woman also charged with lying to investigators at the scene of the shooting has been sentenced to time-served in federal detention.
In addition to his 18-month sentence, Brad “Pappy” Keller, 49, also will serve three years on supervised release, and must undergo substance abuse treatment and counseling.
Virginia “Jenny” Torres, 24, has served 11 months in custody since her arrest following the July 11 murder of Long. She is being held in the Vigo County Jail on local charges related to the shooting.
U.S. Attorney Joseph Hogsett said the sentencings of Keller and Torres mark the conclusion of a difficult chapter in Terre Haute’s history. Seven people were criminally charged and pleaded guilty in federal court — all before the first anniversary of Officer Brent Long’s death.
Keller pleaded guilty to charges of illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. That weapon was subsequently sold to and used by Shaun Seeley in killing Long. Seeley died at the scene of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
“These convictions represent a groundbreaking legal strategy,” Hogsett said. “I pledge that our office will continue to use every means available to hold accountable all those who put law enforcement officers in harm’s way.”
After discovering that state law did not provide an effective path of prosecution against those involved in the killing, the U.S. Attorney’s Office helped open a federal investigation into Long’s death.
Led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, this effort resulted in last year’s indictment of seven Terre Haute residents.
Torres — along with Heather Elkins, Charles Elkins, Roberta Utterback and Jesse Padgett — has admitted to making a false statement to police that day. All admitted that they did not tell police that Seeley was hiding inside the residence when police arrived to serve a warrant for his arrest.
Keller and Scott Griffy pleaded guilty to charges in connection with their alleged illegal possession and sale of the weapon used in the shooting. Keller admitted to illegally possessing the pistol used by Seeley in killing Officer Long. That firearm was obtained from Keller by Griffy, also a convicted felon, who was sentenced to seven years in prison in August on charges relating to the illegal sale of the weapon to Seeley shortly before the shooting.
Keller is a five-time convicted felon with prior convictions for burglary and attempted burglary in Vigo County. Keller was on probation for drug charges relating to the possession and production of methamphetamine when he was arrested.
Hogsett said that all seven defendants were charged with indirect or collateral involvement in Long’s death. He said that the “Terre Haute prosecution strategy” used in this case has now come into play in two other police-related shootings in Indianapolis.
“The legacy of Brent Long extends beyond the bounds of Terre Haute and Vigo County, and further than the Wabash Valley,” Hogsett said.
“From this tragedy, an entire prosecution strategy has emerged that is new, creative and will hold those accountable who sell a firearm in a community where it will likely be employed in an act of violence.”
Reporter Lisa Trigg can be reached at (812) 231-4254 or lisa.trigg@tribstar.com. Follow her on Twitter @TribStarLisa.
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Related Photos
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Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Dogged: U.S. Attorney Joseph Hogsett talks about the trail of illegal gun possession involved around the shooting and deaths of law enforcement officers in Indiana. Hogsett was in Terre Haute for sentencing of the final defendants in the prosecution of seven local individuals on charges relating to the death of Terre Haute Police Officer Brent Long.
Discussion
Hogsett lays down the law on guns
Two defendants in Brent Long case get federal sentences
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