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Taylor D. Hunt v. State of Indiana
25A-CR-1260
Criminal. Appeal from the Allen Superior Court. Judge Steven O. Godfrey. Affirms Hunt’s Level 3 felony conviction for possession of methamphetamine and his 12-year sentence. Finds sufficient evidence supported the conviction where police recovered two bags of identical tablets from Hunt’s pocket, one tablet tested positive for methamphetamine, and Hunt told officers the tablets would test positive, allowing the trial court to infer the untested tablets were the same substance. Also finds the sentence not inappropriate under Appellate Rule 7(B), citing the dangerous circumstances of the offense, Hunt’s criminal history, repeated probation violations, and the fact the offense was committed while on parole. Attorneys for appellant: Gregory L. Fumarolo. Attorneys for appellee: Attorney General Theodore E. Rokita, Deputy Attorney General Alexandria Sons.
Yonatan J. Felipe Velasquez v. State of Indiana
24A-CR-2904
Criminal. Appeal from the Tippecanoe Superior Court. Judge Steven P. Meyer. Affirms Velasquez’s child-molesting conviction and 12-year sentence, with 10 years executed and two years suspended to probation. Finds Velasquez waived appellate review of his claim that the trial court improperly excluded evidence of the victim’s alleged sexual contact with another person by failing to make a valid offer of proof. Also finds the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting videos of Velasquez’s custodial interview, concluding the State proved he knowingly and voluntarily waived his Miranda rights despite the interview being conducted through a Spanish interpreter and a Spanish-language rights form. Further holds the trial court did not abuse its discretion in sentencing, concluding the sentence would have been the same based on unchallenged aggravating factors, including the victim’s age and the use of force in a public park. Attorneys for appellant: Harvey L. Lancaster Jr., Scott M. Gill. Attorneys for appellee: Attorney General Theodore E. Rokita, Deputy Attorney General Kelly A. Loy.
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