CHANDLER, Ind. — A 52-year-old Chandler man is facing criminal charges after police allege he provided alcohol to three teenagers, resulting in one being hospitalized for severe intoxication.
According to an arrest affidavit, the incident occurred on February 1. Authorities said a teenage boy was taken to the hospital after becoming severely intoxicated, prompting an investigation. Days later, a family member of the teen informed law enforcement that Robert P. Holben, an employee at Castle High School, was the person who supplied the alcohol.
Holben, a Program Assistant with Warrick County Schools, has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Dr. Abbie Redmon, the district’s superintendent, confirmed that a recommendation for Holben’s termination will be presented at the next school board meeting on Monday.
Chandler Police also revealed that their investigation extended beyond the alcohol-related charges, as they were alerted to videos depicting sex acts that allegedly occurred on the same day. While the investigation into these videos is ongoing, the alcohol-related charges are the focus of Holben’s current legal troubles. The Department of Child Services and Warrick County Deputies have taken over the investigation into the explicit content.
Holben faces two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Surveillance footage from the liquor store showed Holben purchasing alcohol on the day of the incident, and his truck was recorded at the residence where the teens consumed the alcohol. In interviews with police, Holben admitted to dropping the teens off at the house, but he claimed they must have taken the alcohol from his truck without his knowledge. Holben stated that he did not realize what had happened until he returned home but did not take any action to retrieve the alcohol.
As part of the investigation, Holben’s cell phone was seized as evidence. Holben was arrested on Wednesday and has since been released from jail.
This case remains under investigation, with authorities continuing to examine all aspects of the incident.
