Indiana Supreme Court
Andres Sanchez v. State of Indiana
20S04-1012-CR-692
Criminal. Revises Sanchez’s consecutive enhanced sentences of 80 years for three counts of Class A felony child molesting to be served concurrently. Generally, multiple victims justify the imposition of enhanced and consecutive sentences. But although the aggravating circumstances are sufficient to warrant imposing enhanced sentences, the record supports imposing consecutive sentences. Revises sentence to 30 years on two of the counts and to the enhanced term of 40 years on the remaining count and orders they be served concurrently. Justice Rucker dissents.
Indiana Court of Appeals
Oscar I. Belmares-Bautista v. State of Indiana
57A04-1003-CR-223
Criminal. Affirms convictions of possession of a counterfeit government-issued identification, a Class A misdemeanor; and operating a vehicle without ever having received a valid license, a Class C misdemeanor. The only issue is whether Belmares-Bautista knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently waived his right to counsel. The counterfeit identification was what appeared to be a driver’s license from the state of Aguascalientes, Mexico, which an officer identified as a forgery.
Robert Neises Construction Corp. v. Grand Innovations Inc., et al.
45A03-1004-PL-238
Civil. Affirms trial court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of appellee-defendant Kentland Bank in this foreclosure action. Neises presented the following issues: whether the trial court erred when it concluded that Kentland’s expenditures to protect the subject real estate from damage pending the foreclosure should take priority over Neises’ and others’ mechanic’s liens; and whether the trial court erred when it did not assign Neises’ mechanic’s lien a higher priority than Kentland’s mortgage lien in the distribution of the proceeds from the sheriff’s sale.
Tracey L. Beswick and Ruthie Beswick v. Edward E. Bell, M.D., and Floyd Memorial Hospital & Health Services
22A01-1005-CT-260
Civil. Affirms trial court’s order granting summary judgment in favor of Floyd Memorial Hospital and Health Services in the medical malpractice action that Tracey L. Beswick and his wife Ruthie Beswick brought against Edward E. Bell, M.D. and Floyd Memorial. Beswicks raised the issue of whether the trial court erred by striking the affidavit of Michael Roback, M.D., submitted by the Beswicks in opposition to Floyd Memorial’s motion for summary judgment.
Glendal Rhoton v. State of Indiana
49A02-1004-CR-446
Criminal. Affirms convictions of murder and burglary as a Class C felony, and the sentences imposed following a jury trial. Rhoton presented three issues for review: whether trial court abused its discretion when it instructed the jury on burglary; whether the evidence was sufficient to support Rhoton’s conviction of murder; whether Rhoton’s sentence was inappropriate in light of the nature of the offenses and his character.
Mark R. Eiler v. State of Indiana
73A04-1005-CR-369
Criminal. Reverses and remands Eiler’s sentence for dealing cocaine as a Class A felony. Eiler raised the issues of whether the trial court abused its discretion in sentencing Eiler, and whether Eiler’s sentence was inappropriate in light of the nature of the offense and the character of the offender.
Francisco Contreras v. State of Indiana (NFP)
49A02-1004-CR-426
Criminal. Affirms convictions of three counts of Class A felony child molesting and two counts of Class C felony child molesting.
Ryan T. Renfroe v. State of Indiana (NFP)
40A01-1002-CR-96
Criminal. Affirms Renfroe’s aggregate executed sentence of 124 years after he pled guilty to two counts of murder and one count of Class C felony escape.
Clarence E. Lampkins v. State of Indiana (NFP)
29A05-1005-CR-373
Criminal. Reverses and remands conviction of possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon as a Class B felony.
Allen Marshall v. Kris Marshall (NFP)
85A03-1005-DR-289
Civil. Reverses and remands trial court’s order that emancipated father’s daughter.
Thomas M. Blair v. State of Indiana (NFP)
45A04-1005-CR-295
Criminal. Affirms conviction, following a jury trial, of burglary as a Class B felony.
James A. Nelson v. Michael Collins (NFP)
26A01-1007-PL-329
Civil. Remands with instructions for the trial court to dismiss Nelson’s complaint without prejudice.
In the Matter of T.O., et al.; J.O. v. Indiana Dept. of Child Services (NFP)
85A04-1006-JC-407
Juvenile. Affirms juvenile court’s order determining that T.O., S.O., B.O., R.O., Z.O., E.O., and G.O. were children in need of services.
Larrell Alexander v. State of Indiana (NFP)
34A04-1003-CR-250
Criminal. Affirms convictions of and sentence for dealing in cocaine, a Class B felony, and resisting law enforcement, a Class A misdemeanor.
Termination of Parent-Child Relationship of G.B., et al.; G.B. & B.B. v. Indiana Dept. of Child Services (NFP)
42A05-1005-JT-318
Juvenile. Reverses and remands with instructions trial court’s order terminating mother’s parental rights over her minor children G.B., K.B., and E.B.
Jerry Bunton v. State of Indiana (NFP)
49A02-1006-CR-600
Criminal. Affirms conviction of theft, a Class D felony, following a jury trial.
Eric Guess v. State of Indiana (NFP)
49A05-1004-PC-281
Post conviction. Affirms denial of petition for post-conviction relief.
Jeffrey D. Boggs v. State of Indiana (NFP)
40A01-1004-CR-163
Criminal. Affirms conviction of escape as a Class C felony, and eight-year executed sentence.
Mark Richmond v. State of Indiana (NFP)
45A03-0607-CR-293
Criminal. Affirms 93-year aggregate sentence imposed following convictions of rape, a Class B felony; criminal deviate conduct, a Class B felony; burglary, a Class B felony; and confinement, a Class D felony, as well as the finding that he is a habitual offender.
D.R. v. Review Board of the Indiana Dept. of Workforce Development (NFP)
93A02-1005-EX-522
Civil. Affirms a decision by the Review Board of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development that denied D.R.’s unemployment benefits.
Indiana Tax Court had posted no opinions at IL deadline.
