Jeffrey Mauck Held on $2 Million Bond After Gun Threat in Salem

A Salem, Indiana, man was held on a $2 million cash bond on Monday afternoon after prosecutors charged him with threatening a girl with a gun to make her get into his vehicle. The bond hearing took place in Washington County, where Jeffrey Mauck, 53, faces six counts stemming from an incident that occurred last Friday in a local Amish community.

Probable cause documents describe Mauck approaching the girl outside her home and asking if her family sold eggs. After she replied no and began to walk away, the sheriff’s department said Mauck grabbed her and pointed a gun at her, instructing her to enter his car. The girl’s family heard her screaming and rushed to intervene.

Court records state that the girl’s father and his sons restrained Mauck until police arrived. One responding officer noted that a pair of black handcuffs was lying on the ground near Mauck and that the man smelled of alcohol. Mauck admitted to drinking, and a chemical test later confirmed a blood alcohol content of .292.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Department labeled the incident “extremely disturbing” in a statement issued after the arrest. The department thanked the girl’s family for acting quickly and warned that anyone attempting to harm or abduct a child in the county would face the full force of law enforcement.

Mauck’s sister, Anna Hall, disputed the charges, calling the event a “huge misunderstanding” in a statement provided to local media. She described Mauck as a gentle person who is not aggressive, citing a blue bear tattoo he has as evidence of his character. Hall said the current narrative is out of character for the man her family knows.

Mauck’s legal team is now preparing to argue the case before the court. The charges include attempted kidnapping and driving while intoxicated. The $2 million bond must be paid in full cash for Mauck to be released while awaiting trial.