On Friday, the Monroe County prosecutor’s office charged Sean Purdy and Jerry Cox in connection with the July 4 Lake Monroe incident, in which Vauhxx Booker described himself as “almost the victim of an attempted lynching.”
As of late Friday morning, the MyCase online system indicates there is an active arrest warrant for Purdy, for criminal confinement with bodily injury, battery resulting in moderate bodily injury, and intimidation.
According to the system, there is also an active arrest warrant for Cox for criminal confinement with bodily injury, battery resulting in moderate bodily injury, and intimidation.
The Monroe County prosecutor’s office included the standard reminder in its press release announcing the charges: “All charges are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.”
Booker’s attorney, Katharine Liell, told The Square Beacon that Booker has not been charged with anything.
A report from the DNR, turned over to the Monroe County prosecutor’s office, had included among its “potential crimes committed” battery and criminal trespass by Booker.
Liell also told The Square Beacon that Booker has tested positive for COVID-19, and will not be publicly available for some time, due to that test. [Updated at 12:07 p.m. on July 17, 2020. That lack of availability applies to in-person interactions—Booker has announced a press conference at 3 p.m. today to be held on the Zoom videoconferencing platform.]
This story will be updated to include links to charging documents from the Monroe County prosecutor’s office as they become available.
[Press Release] [Purdy charge sheet] [Cox charge sheet] [Probable cause affidavit]