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Officials: Indiana sheriff gave prostitute uniform

By WTOP Staff

BRUCE SCHREINER
Associated Press

NEW ALBANY, Ind. (AP) — A southern Indiana sheriff accused of patronizing a prostitute gave the woman a deputy’s badge and uniform so she could get hotel discounts, then later encouraged her to get rid of the evidence, authorities said Tuesday.

A federal grand jury indictment charges Clark County Sheriff Daniel N. Rodden with lying to FBI agents and advising the woman to dispose of the credentials and uniform.

Rodden’s arrest came just weeks after a suburban Indianapolis sheriff resigned over his own relationship with a prostitute.

Prosecutors declined to say at a Tuesday news conference whether the cases are linked. But a person with knowledge of the connection told The Associated Press they involve the same woman. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the connection hasn’t been made public.

Authorities wouldn’t say if the woman is cooperating with law enforcement.

The indictment unsealed Tuesday alleges Rodden met the woman in mid-May 2013 at a Louisville, Kentucky, hotel, where he provided her “with law enforcement credentials and an official deputy’s badge” so she could obtain a government employee’s rate at hotels. The indictment also alleges Rodden met the woman again in late May and paid her $300 to perform a sex act.

He faces seven counts of making false statements and one count of encouraging the destruction of evidence.

Rodden, 60, has denied the charges. He has served as sheriff since 2007 and has been married for 29 years and has two adult children.

Rodden was led in shackles Tuesday into a federal courtroom in Indianapolis, where a federal magistrate judge read him his rights. Once his shackles were removed, he sat at the defense table with his head bowed and a dazed look on his face as attorneys asked and answered questions on his behalf. He was released under certain conditions, including that he not have access to firearms.

The indictment, which was returned on July 22, stems from an FBI investigation of wire fraud and enticing an individual to travel in interstate commerce to engage in prostitution.

Deputy U.S. Attorney Brad Blackington said the investigation into Rodden started when the FBI developed an informant who had information about prostitution and wire fraud activity.

“Mr. Rodden was one of the people that was alleged to have patronized the prostitute in question,” he said.

The indictment alleges that Rodden lied to federal agents during the investigation. FBI special agents and task force members interviewed Rodden three times this year — May 27, May 29 and June 5.

Rodden is the second Indiana law enforcement official who has been the recent target of an investigation related to a prostitute. Boone County Sheriff Ken Campbell resigned in June amid an investigation into his relationship with a prostitute.

The woman in Campbell’s case told The Indianapolis Star that she and Campbell began a consensual sexual relationship in November 2010 that continued into this year. She said Campbell didn’t pay her for their sexual encounters but that he knew she was a prostitute before the relationship began.

Campbell has not been charged.

___

Schreiner reported from New Albany, Indiana. Wilson reported from Indianapolis.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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