Published: July 01, 2008 08:44 pm         

Woman accused of bribery in sex case posts bail

TERRE HAUTE — A woman accused of bribery in connection with a sexual misconduct case posted $25,000 bail and was released Tuesday.

Donna Mitchell, 35, of Terre Haute had been in jail since turning herself in June 2. She was wanted for her alleged efforts to extort money from a 73-year-old man in exchange for not turning him in to authorities.

Her bail amount was reduced from $50,000 to $25,000.

Bribery is a class-C felony, carrying a penalty ranging from two to eight years in prison.

John Beatty of Martinsville, Ill., faces charges of sexual misconduct with a minor. Mitchell, who is a relative of the victim in the case, asked Beatty, a former high-school principal and teacher, for $300,000 to keep quiet, according to police.

The police received a tip about Mitchell’s offer, according to Detective Rick Decker of city police.

Beatty posted bail on June 18 after it was lowered to $50,000, with 10 percent allowed.

He is charged with three class-B felony counts of sexual misconduct with a minor.