NEW INFO: Paper Spotlights Local Criminals

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - A new publication is putting the spotlight on local criminals and people wanted by the police. It's called MugShots, Inc. and the sub-headline on the front page sums up it's contents. It reads "Local warrants, arrests, local sex offenders".

MugShots, Inc. reads like a yearbook of people either wanted by local law enforcement agencies or people with a criminal past. In many cases, like those of local sex offenders the mug shot comes with the person's address, and the time they've served.

It sells for $1.25, though all the information is a matter of public record, available for free on the internet.

The two brothers behind the paper say by putting it in paper form, it puts the information into a lot more people's hands. To protect their identity, NewsChannel 15 is not including their last names in this story.

"We're going back to the old-fashioned way of getting information out there," said Jason, who manages the sales of the paper.

Jason's business partner and brother, Chris, said the paper took away a priceless advantage for criminals.

"The anonymity of the criminal doesn't exist anymore with this paper."

The Fort Wayne natives have found that just two publications in, and MugShots Inc. is more popular than they would've guessed.

"They are flying out of here," said Crystal Calhoun, who is the manager at Dave's Convenience store in Fort Wayne. "I can't keep them in!"

MugShots Inc. sits right on top of the counter at Dave's. Calhoun likes the idea of the publication and says it empowers people to protect themselves.

As far as protecting people in the paper who have already served their debt to society...?

"Unfortunately, if you don't want your picture in MugShots, don't get in trouble," said Calhoun, with a shrug.

Working on the third publication of MugShots, Chris says producing the paper is now a full-time job for he and his brother. Both with non-violent criminal pasts, themselves, the two have been out of trouble for years and say they're examples of how anyone can turn their lives around.

"That's a bonus of the paper," said Chris. "It's giving back to the community a little bit."

MugShots, Inc. is published every two weeks. It's available at the following local retail stores, according to the publishers:

1).Low Bobs Discount Tobacco 2545 W.Jefferson Blvd.Ft.Wayne

2) Low Bobs 2740 Broadway Ft.Wayne

3) Low Bobs 6227 Bluffton Rd. Ft. Wayne

4) Low Bobs 4420 Bluffton Rd.Ft.Wayne

5) Low Bobs 1575 Goshen Rd.

6)Low Bobs 6104 Stellhorn Rd.Ft.Wayne

7)Dave Hills Market 3031 W.Washington Center Rd.Ft.Wayne

8)Daves Discount Tobacco and Convenience Store 901 Spring St.Ft.Wayne

10)Scotts Package Liquors 312 S.Main St. Columbia City

11)Twenty Past Four 3138 Broadway Ft.Wayne

12)Clark Station 1415 N.Coliseum Ft.Wayne

13)New Haven Speedway Mart 1316 US HWY 930E

14)BKD Marathon 3208 E.Coliseum Ft.Wayne

15)Low Bobs 10368 Leo Rd. Ft.Wayne

16)Five Points Express 702 E. Paulding Rd. Ft.Wayne

17) Busco One Stop 556 S.Main St.Churubusco

18)Citgo 44885 US 33 Merriam

19)Cloud 9 Smoke Shop & The Bean Coffee Shop 1008 N.Wells St. Ft.Wayne

20)United Marathon 2001 Brooklyn Ave. Ft.Wayne

21) Fairfield Gasway 4230 Fairfield Ave..Ft.Wayne

22)BP Express 2522 Goshen Rd. Ft.Wayne

23) Frank Park Marathon 1130 Goshen Rd. Ft.Wayne

24)Oxford Onestop 3003 Oxford St. Ft.Wayne

25) Marathon 545 W.Connexion Way Columbia City