by Abdul-Hakim Shabazz

So let me get this straight.

You’ve got Indiana Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith — the self-appointed defender of Christian values, anti-woke crusader, and resident theologian of the Statehouse — grinning courtside at a Pacers game with none other than Michael Sherfick. Yes, that Sherfick — the former Perry Township law enforcement officer turned convicted felon who did time in federal prison for conspiracy to commit bribery, and later pled out in a case tied to insurance fraud and arson.

The image, reshared from Diego Morales’ verified account and posted by Sherfick’s son, shows Beckwith, Morales, and Sherfick shoulder-to-shoulder in a Gainbridge Fieldhouse luxury suite. The caption? “Great having these gentlemen join us tonight!! Go Pacers!!!!” Cute. But it’s also a political Rorschach test — and what I see is bad judgment wrapped in a $200 ticket and a whole lot of backpedalling.

Beckwith claimed afterwards that he barely knew Sherfick. Said they’d “talked a few times” and he had no idea about Sherfick’s criminal past. Now, I don’t know about you, but if I were an elected official with a charismatic Christian brand, and someone I barely know invited me to a private suite at an NBA playoff game, I would conduct a background check. At the very least, a five-second Google search. Especially when that someone has a public record longer than a state budget bill and has once been caught handing out fake police credentials like Halloween candy.

You can’t run around banning books and lecturing librarians about morality, then turn around and say, “Oh, I had no idea the guy buying me courtside seats was a convicted felon.” That’s not naivety — that’s willful ignorance.

And let’s not forget Diego Morales, standing in the same photo, smiling like this is a campaign mailer. You know Diego — the Secretary of State who’s faced allegations of sexual misconduct, campaign finance sketchiness, and misuse of state resources. He’s the political equivalent of Indiana’s version of “Florida Man,” but in a suit and tie. Put him, Beckwith, and Sherfick in a room together and you’ve got a GOP ethics panel — if the ethics are optional.

Now, to be clear: Sherfick doesn’t own the downtown Indianapolis BDSM-themed club that’s made the rounds in political circles lately — but he is the landlord. The venue, known for its drag shows, kink nights, and adult events, rents space from one Michael Sherfick. So while he’s not booking the leather-and-latex lineup, he is cashing the rent checks.

That’s fine — capitalism is capitalism. But maybe don’t claim to be a “values-first” Christian candidate while taking freebies from the guy leasing space to a club your base would call Sodom with an Instagram filter.

This isn’t guilt by association — it’s a judgment call, and both Beckwith and Morales blew it. If Sherfick’s turned his life around, great. But someone should’ve vetted who was handing out the suite invites before everyone got cozy on camera.

Beckwith wants to lead the state into a new era of virtue and accountability. Well, this is what accountability looks like. Don’t preach law and order on Sunday morning, then party in a suite with a guy who pled to bribery and arson before halftime.

In politics, as in life, it’s not just about who you stand with. It’s about who you stand next to when the flash goes off — and what you pretend not to know afterward.

Abdul-Hakim Shabazz is the editor and publisher of Indy Politics.  He is also an attorney licensed in Indiana and Illinois.