Former inmate returns to prison to share his success story

​Wabash Valley Correctional Facility

​SULLIVAN COUNTY - Wabash Valley Correctional Facility welcomed Brandon Knoepfle back with open arms, hoping he would have a positive impact on the offenders shoes, in which he has walked.

Brandon was once incarcerated at WVCF.  However, he recently returned to the facility in Carlisle to share his journey to success.  He is now the proud owner of the Acorn Grill in Sullivan, Indiana.  The business has done so well, that they are considering opening a second location in the  future.  

In 2012 Brandon was released from the Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC).  Upon release, Brandon said that God told him to spend his first year working on himself before he started pursing his desire to help others. 

That's just what Brandon did.

Since that time, Brandon has led recovery meetings and spoke at several jails, churches and schools.  
He shares his fall and his rise, from convict to business owner. 

When asked how he began his business endeavor, he said that he had actually listed it as one of his goals when he was in the Purposeful Living Units Serve (PLUS) Program at Putnamville.  PLUS is a character and faith based program that the IDOC offers offenders to help motivate them to make lifestyle changes.

Brandon said that he is still active in the recovery world, mentoring others to help them be successful!  

Brandon shared his struggle to find meaningful employment to support himself and his family. In 2017, he decided he would follow through with his goal he set while in PLUS and become an entrepreneur.