Wayne County Warrant Wednesday Names Four Wanted

Wayne County deputies put four faces in the spotlight this week, highlighting people they say have active warrants in a routine "Warrant Wednesday" Facebook post. The midweek bulletin includes photos, physical descriptions and a call for tips from the public. Two men and two women are listed, with allegations that include burglary, domestic battery with strangulation, operating while intoxicated with an endangerment element, and resisting law enforcement. Officials also stress that the names appear because of pending allegations and that anyone with information should share tips instead of attempting to confront anyone themselves.

Who’s Named and What’s Alleged

According to the Wayne County Indiana Sheriff’s Office Facebook post (Wayne County Indiana Sheriff’s Office), the four people named are:

58-year-old Stephen Gaskey Jr., wanted on a petition to revoke probation and burglary charges; 46-year-old Crystal Bowers, wanted for reckless driving and resisting law enforcement; 27-year-old Miguel Angel Montes de Oca, wanted on charges that include domestic battery in the presence of a child, strangulation and failure to appear; and 58-year-old Anthony C. Lang, wanted for operating while intoxicated with an endangerment allegation and failure to appear.

The post lays out physical details such as height, weight, and eye and hair color to help residents recognize the individuals. It also repeats the department’s standard reminder that "all charges are merely accusations; a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law."

Warrant Wednesday in Context

The sheriff’s office rolls out these "Warrant Wednesday" posts on a regular basis to keep outstanding warrants in the public eye and to nudge along any tipsters who might be watching. Hoodline has previously looked at how the weekly push works and how similar lists have prompted community tips that led to arrests, as well as the department’s standing request that residents not approach anyone they believe is wanted.

Legal Note

Some of the alleged offenses listed carry serious potential penalties under Indiana law. Strangulation is codified as a felony that can be charged at different levels depending on the circumstances; under the state code reproduced on Justia, strangulation is punishable as at least a Level 6 felony, with aggravating factors that can increase the level. Domestic-battery counts may be filed as misdemeanors or felonies depending on the nature of any injury and the relationship between the people involved. The enhanced operating-while-intoxicated offense that includes an endangerment element can also be elevated in severity based on how the person was allegedly driving and any prior convictions, as reflected in Indiana case law and statutory guidance (FindLaw).

The sheriff’s office lists a tip line at 765-973-9355 and asks anyone with information to call or send a message through its usual channels (Wayne County Sheriff’s Office). Officials caution residents not to try to make an arrest on their own and to call 911 if they believe someone on the list poses an immediate danger.