$75,000 bond set for Indiana lawyer who submitted own obit

DISCUSS

KENDALLVILLE — A Kendallville attorney facing drug charges was ordered held on $75,000 bond after admitting he submitted his obituary to a newspaper to fake his own death.

During his initial court hearing Thursday, Jon Criss denied that the obituary was an attempt to flee authorities.

"I was trying to keep people from stealing from me," he said.

The News-Sun reported Friday that Prosecutor Steve Clouse argued the obituary and a statement Criss made to an investigator showed that the 43-year-old Criss intended to flee the area for Bloomington.

The obituary, with his name spelled "John Chris," ran Tuesday in The News-Sun and two sister newspapers.

"The false obituary causes the court a great amount of concern," Judge Robert Kirsch said. He then set the bond at $75,000.

Criss, who was arrested Wednesday evening, indicated he planned to represent himself. He could not be reached for comment Friday because he remained in the Noble County Jail. Criss faces felony charges of possession of methamphetamine and maintaining a common nuisance and misdemeanor charges of possession of marijuana and possession of a synthetic drug.

He was among several dozen attorneys statewide who had their law licenses suspended last month for failing to comply with required continuing legal education requirements.