A Churdan man was recently sentenced to probation for a November incident.

According to court documents, 19-year-old Benjamin Johnston pled guilty to an amended charge of a serious misdemeanor for fourth degree theft. He received a deferred judgment and was placed on probation for one year with the Boone and Greene County Probation Services.  

The charge stemmed from an incident on November 18th from an underage drinking party that Johnston and another suspect 19-year-old Cody Husar hosted at their residence in Churdan. An investigation began after the Jefferson Police Department responded to a single-vehicle crash with a bridge south of Jefferson. It was discovered that an 18-year-old driver suffered injuries and had alcohol containers in the vehicle that the driver said was from a party the night before.

The Greene County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the Churdan home and found evidence of alcohol and stolen street signs. 

Court documents show that Johnston was ordered to pay over $500 in civil penalties and court costs. As per the plea agreement, an aggravated misdemeanor for giving and/or supplying alcohol to a minor resulting in serious injury was dismissed.