Boone County Man Faces Bribery Charges

A Boone County man has been arrested following attempts to bribe a victim. Twenty-nine-year-old Robert Bennett Culver is facing felony charges of witness bribery.

According to the probable cause affidavit, on February 21, the victim contacted officers about an attempted bribery. Officers had been working on a case involving the victim and Culver in which the victim had purchased a trailer for $4,500 from the suspect. Culver still owed money on the trailer, and a repossession company took the trailer from the victim. Culver was arrested in December 2023 on theft charges and bonded out.

According to the victim, beginning on February 12, Culver had begun messaging him via Facebook messenger, saying he could pay back the money if he would drop the charges. Culver allegedly said, “If you drop the charges, you will either get the money for restitution back immediately or I will pay you the money ASAP. I’m willing to do whatever I need to make it right, but I won’t be able to do much if I’m sitting in jail and lose my kids you know?” Culver then told the victim to meet him at the Boone County Sheriff’s Office.

Culver also admitted to using the police report to find the victim’s contact information.

The victim stated he had been messaging Culver back as losing $4,500 impacted his family, and he needed the money back but did not want Culver to get away with the crime. The victim was concerned about the same scenario happening to someone else if Culver was not punished.

Culver was booked in the Boone County Detention Center on one felony count of witness bribery. He was released on a $1,500 bond.

(From KTLO)