Man withdraws effort challenging conviction in officer’s death
A man who was sentenced to life in prison without parole for fatally shooting a Gary police officer in 2014 has withdrawn his effort to challenge his conviction.
Associated Press
Articles
Court fight continues over logging along Lake Monroe
Some property owners along southern Indiana’s Lake Monroe are making a new attempt to stop a neighbor from logging his land.
Ex-White House lawyer defies House subpoena for Mueller docs
A former White House lawyer defied a congressional subpoena Tuesday, setting the Trump administration on course for another collision with the Democratic-led House over its pursuit of documents related to the Russia investigation.
Nadler: ‘Constitutional crisis’ over Mueller report dispute
The House Judiciary chairman said Wednesday the Trump administration’s refusal to provide special counsel Robert Mueller’s full Russia report to Congress presents a “constitutional crisis,” leaving the panel no choice but to move forward with a contempt vote against Attorney General William Barr.
Indianapolis police arrest 2 men in shootings of Clark County judges
Indiana police said Tuesday detectives arrested 41-year-old Brandon Kaiser and 23-year-old Alfredo Vazquez for their alleged roles in the shootings of Clark Circuit Judges Bradley Jacobs and Andrew Adams. Marion County Jail records shown Kaiser faces preliminary charges of attempted murder, battery, aggravated battery and carrying a handgun without a license, and Vazquez is charged with assisting a criminal.
Refusal to hand over Trump’s tax returns sets up legal fight
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has made it official: The administration won’t be turning President Donald Trump’s tax returns over to the Democratic-controlled House. The move, which was expected, is sure to set in motion a legal battle over Trump’s tax returns.
Gary woman agrees to plead guilty in daughter’s shooting death
A northwestern Indiana woman has agreed to plead guilty to a reduced neglect charge stemming from her 2-year-old daughter’s shooting death. Dashana Fowler, 22, Gary, agreed Monday to plead guilty to neglect of a dependent resulting in bodily injury in the Sept. 4 death of Jayla Miller.
Police: DNA determines 1972 killer of Indiana student
Police say a man just identified as the killer of an Indiana State University student in 1972 was killed in a shootout with police six years later. Terre Haute Police Chief Shawn Keen said Monday that a DNA sample from a son of Jeffrey Lynn Hand was used to connect him to the killing of 19-year-old Pamela Milam.
Man withdraws effort challenging conviction in Gary officer’s death
A man who was sentenced to life in prison without parole for fatally shooting a northwestern Indiana police officer in 2014 has withdrawn his effort to challenge his conviction. Carl Le’Ellis Blount filed a petition last year alleging Lake County prosecutors threatened him to get him to plead guilty to murder in the shooting death of Gary Patrolman Jeffrey Westerfield, but he asked to withdraw his petition in April.
Double murder-robbery convict avoids life sentence
A 24-year-old Evansville man convicted of two counts each of murder and robbery for killing two people has avoided a life sentence but still could spend his remaining years in prison. Tippecanoe Superior Judge Randy Williams ruled Friday a life sentence for Deshay Hackner would contradict the penal system’s goals of rehabilitation.
Lugar funeral to be held May 15 at Indianapolis church
The funeral for former U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar will be held at 1 p.m. May 15 at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Indianapolis. The six-term senator, who served as a lay elder at the north side Indianapolis church, died April 28 at age 87.
Indianapolis police seek 2 suspects in judges’ shootings
Indianapolis police say they have two suspects they’re searching for in connection with the shootings of two southern Indiana judges attending a judicial conference in Indiana’s capital. Police on Friday released surveillance video showing the two suspects getting out of an SUV outside a downtown restaurant where the shootings of Clark Circuit Judges Bradley Jacobs and Andrew Adams occurred early Wednesday.
Canadian truck driver faces 2 infractions in Indiana crash that killed 2 kids
Western Indiana authorities have filed two civil infractions against a Canadian semitrailer driver for a 2017 crash that killed two children. Amritpal Singh of Quebec, Canada, is accused of following too closely and driving too fast for the conditions.
Fatal shooting of man by Clarksville officer ruled justified
A prosecutor has decided that the fatal shooting of a southern Indiana man by a police officer after the man refused to drop a gun was justified. Clark County Prosecutor Jeremy Mull reviewed the investigation from Indiana State Police and determined no charges would be filed in the death of 43-year-old Max David Helton of Clarksville.
Woman pleads guilty to neglect after removing feeding tube
A Terre Haute woman has agreed to plead guilty to neglect in the dehydration death of her infant son after she removed his feeding tube. Tabetha Smith, 39, would face a 16-year sentence if the plea entered Thursday is accepted. Vigo Superior Judge Sarah Mullican took the plea agreement under advisement.
NE Indiana man gets 10 years for injuring police officer
A northeastern Indiana man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for seriously injuring a police officer while fleeing authorities. Kevin J. Turner, 53, Huntertown, had pleaded guilty to three felony charges, including resisting law enforcement, for the October incident involving Kendallville police Officer Blake Kugler.
Jurors deadlock on life sentence for 2 slayings in Indiana
Jurors have deadlocked on whether to recommend a sentence of life in prison for a 24-year-old Evansville man convicted of murder and robbery in the 2017 slayings of two people in southwest Indiana. Jurors were dismissed Thursday after deadlocking on the question. They convicted Deshay Hackner on Wednesday in the deaths of 29-year-old Dewone Broomfield and his girlfriend, 28-year-old Mary Woodruff.
Trump, GOP states ask appeals court to kill ‘Obamacare’
Taking a harder line on health care, the Trump administration on Wednesday joined a coalition of Republican-led states, including Indiana, in asking a federal appeals court to entirely overturn former President Barack Obama’s signature health care law — a decision that could leave millions uninsured.
Hammond woman accused of driving over boyfriend twice, killing him
A northwestern Indiana woman accused of driving over her boyfriend twice with a car has been charged in his killing. Twenty-three-year-old Briana Rice of Hammond is charged with murder, voluntary manslaughter and leaving the scene of a fatal accident in the April 24 death of 25-year-old Terrondy Jones.
Barr skips House hearing; Pelosi accuses him of lying
Attorney General William Barr skipped a House hearing Thursday on special counsel Robert Mueller’s Trump-Russia report, escalating an already acrimonious battle between Democrats and President Donald Trump’s Justice Department. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested Barr had already lied to Congress in other testimony and called that a “crime.”