Johannes Poulard Announces Bid for Indiana State Senate District 4, Files Lawsuit Alleging Malicious Prosecution

By Hoosier Enquirer Staff

January 13, 2026  In a bold public statement released on January 12, 2026, Johannes Poulard, the Board Secretary of Hoosier Enquirer and a Michigan City resident, officially declared his candidacy for the Indiana State Senate District 4 seat as a Republican. The district, which encompasses parts of LaPorte and Porter counties, is currently held by Democratic Senator Rodney Pol.

Poulard's announcement comes amid revelations of a recently filed lawsuit against local officials and law enforcement, which he claims is part of a targeted "lawfare" effort to derail his political ambitions.Poulard, who previously ran for the same seat in the 2022 Republican primary but was defeated by Jeff Larson with 21.2% of the vote, is no stranger to the political arena. A multilingual entrepreneur and Russian Orthodox Christian with roots in European immigrant heritage, he was appointed as Hoosier Enquirer's Board Secretary in June 2025.

 His 2026 campaign emphasizes combating government and police corruption, reforming law enforcement hiring practices, and criminalizing what he describes as "lawfare"—the misuse of the justice system for political or personal harm.The Lawsuit: Allegations of False Arrest and Evidence WithholdingCentral to Poulard's statement is a lawsuit filed on December 31, 2025, in LaPorte County Superior Court against the City of Michigan City, Mayor Angie Nelson-Deuitch, the Michigan City Police Department, several officers including Daniel Revoir, Douglas Abraham, Christopher Manns, Antonio Carire, Lt. Steve Westphal, and former Chief Marty Corley, as well as the LaPorte County Prosecutor’s Office, Prosecutor Sean Philip Fagan, Deputy Prosecutor George Galanos, and former Deputy Prosecutor David Ambers.

 The suit alleges malicious prosecution stemming from a 2025 arrest on a false Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) charge.According to Poulard, he blew 0.00 on a breathalyzer three times and passed an Indiana State Department of Toxicology (ISDT)-certified blood test for controlled substances. He claims evidence was deliberately withheld by both the prosecutor's office and police to prolong the case indefinitely. The charges were eventually dismissed quietly, reportedly due to intervention by Indiana Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith. Poulard suspects the arrest was orchestrated by Mayor Nelson-Deuitch to intimidate him from pursuing public office. This isn't the first time Poulard has publicly raised concerns about potential collusion in LaPorte County. In a prior article published on the Hoosier Enquirer website, he detailed similar allegations of evidence withholding to pressure arrestees into plea deals, vowing to file complaints and lawsuits against the involved parties.

Additionally, Poulard highlighted what he calls a violation of Indiana law by Prosecutor Fagan. He presented written proof from CNA Surety that Fagan's surety bond expired on December 31, 2024, allowing him to hold office without proper bonding for over a year, contravening IC 5-4-1-10. Poulard has informed the Indiana State Board of Accounts, the LaPorte County Recorder’s Office, and plans to deliver the evidence personally to Attorney General Todd Rokita.

A Campaign Born from Adversity Poulard described the ordeal as a catalyst for his renewed determination. "What I endured in the spring and summer of 2025, and the loss of income it has caused, has not intimidated me from running for office," he stated. "In fact, it has done the complete opposite and has made me even more determined to run. "He positioned himself as a "boat rocker" unafraid to challenge corruption, emphasizing that "it is better that nine guilty men go free before one innocent man goes to jail." Drawing from his experiences, Poulard outlined a platform focused on systemic reforms to restore public trust in law enforcement and the judiciary. Key Policy Proposals If elected, Poulard pledges to prioritize the following initiatives:

• Electing Local Police Chiefs: Shift from appointments by city or town officials to public elections to increase accountability and reduce political influence.

• Ending Plea Deals and Bench Trials: Advocate for mandatory jury trials in all criminal cases, allowing defendants a full opportunity to clear their names. "If a prosecutor or a police officer believes a person is guilty, there are the courts and they need to go to the courts and put the facts on the table along with the defense and let the jury decide," Poulard asserted.

• Elected Police Oversight Boards: Establish fair and balanced boards in every municipality, comprising former law enforcement officers of good character, victims of the justice system, and constitutional scholars.

• Criminalizing Lawfare: Define and penalize the deliberate abuse of the justice system to inflict financial, emotional, or professional harm, particularly when used against political opponents. Poulard accused "the far left" of repeatedly employing this tactic and called for it to end.

• Spotlighting Corruption: Push for severe punishments for corrupt officials and officers, including those who collude to withhold evidence, to protect the reputation of honest law enforcement personnel and ensure fair trials.

Poulard's platform echoes his long-standing activism, including opposition to COVID-19 mandates and participation in pro-life rallies since his college years. As an entrepreneur with international business interests in Georgia (the country), he brings a global perspective to local issues. Looking Ahead Poulard's 2026 bid comes at a time when Indiana's political landscape is heating up, with the primary elections set for May. His previous campaign appearance before the Indiana Election Commission in September 2025, where he addressed a minor campaign finance penalty for his 2022 run, underscores his persistence in the face of bureaucratic hurdles.

As the race unfolds, Poulard's allegations and reform agenda could resonate with voters disillusioned by perceived institutional overreach. Hoosier Enquirer will continue to monitor developments in this story, including any responses from the named defendants in the lawsuit. For more details on Poulard's background and campaign, visit his official channels or contact Hoosier Enquirer.