A former Ball State University employee who was convicted of assaulting a student in June 2004 was arrested Wednesday when he failed to report to Delaware County Jail to begin his sentence.
John Donovan, 45, was supposed to serve a 90-day jail sentence after pleading guilty March 18 to theft and battery charges, Eric Hoffman, Delaware County Deputy prosecutor, said.
In June 2004, Donovan rear-ended elementary education major Kyra Moore, and then he tried to attack her as she tried to call the police on her cell phone, police said. After failing to take her cell phone, he took her car keys and drove off, police said.
He was supposed to serve one-year suspended sentence and one-year supervised probation. He was also originally charged with obstruction of justice and interference with reporting of a crime, although those charges were dropped according to a plea agreement.
"I am just glad that he was apprehended," Hoffman said.
Donovan was found and arrested at his job in Indianapolis around noon Wednesday. Hoffman said he was captured with the cooperation of the Indianapolis Police Department Warrant Squad. Moore said the Muncie Police Department's Victim Advocate Program contacted her about Donovan's recent capture.
"I am honestly bewildered about why he would do this to himself," Moore said.
Donovan, was hired March 29, 2004 as a temporary computer programmer in the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management and was under contract through June 2005, Heather Shupp, University Communications executive director, said. She said he resigned Sept. 24, 2004, and had no previous criminal or disciplinary problems that the university was aware of.
Moore said a victim advocate also contacted her about his resignation. She said she feels safer now that Donovan no longer works at the university and that he has found another job in Indianapolis. If she did see him in Muncie, she said she might become suspicious and contact authorities. She said she hopes he will be able to reflect on how he got into this situation.
"I feel like there is a sense of closure now; it's still not completely over, but it is coming to an end," Moore said.
Donovan now faces a new charge for failure to return to lawful detention, which is a Class D felony, Hoffman said. The Class D felony charge carries a minimum of six months and a maximum sentencing of three years and a fine of up to $10,000, according to the Indiana Administrative Code.
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