COA to hear cases at Ivy Tech Columbus, North Central
The Indiana Court of Appeals will hear traveling arguments in two cases this week, starting Tuesday in Bartholomew County with a case involving a drug-dealing conviction.
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2 Elkhart police officers face battery charges
Two Elkhart police officers were placed on administrative leave and will be charged with battery for repeatedly punching a handcuffed man in the face. The Elkhart police department on Friday announced the charges against officers Cory Newland and Joshua Titus.
Fort Wayne man accused in attack on mother now facing murder charge
A Fort Wayne Indiana man who police say told an officer he was possessed by demons and Adolf Hitler when he allegedly attacked his mother is facing a murder charge. Court records show the charge was added Tuesday against 34-year-old Jason Steiss, who last week was jailed on charges including aggravated battery.
Special prosecutor believes women but won’t charge AG Hill
Special prosecutor Daniel Sigler said he believes the four women who accused Attorney General Curtis Hill of groping them, but he said he chose not to file criminal charges against Hill because believing the women would not be enough in a court of law.
Suit against Hill could cost taxpayers; accusers to name state
The Indiana Attorney General’s Office is now in the process of investigating a complaint filed against it, the state and Attorney General Curtis Hill after four women who publicly accused Hill of groping them at a party filed official notice of a civil lawsuit. If the women succeed on their claims against state defendants, taxpayers could be on the hook to pay any judgments.
Man accused in attack on mother told police he was possessed
Police say a northeastern Indiana a man told an officer that he was possessed by demons and Adolf Hitler when he allegedly bit, hit, punched and choked his mother.
No criminal charges, but AG Hill faces suits from accusers
After the special prosecutor announced his decision Tuesday not to bring charges against Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill, the four women who have accused the state’s top lawyer of sexual misconduct stepped into the public spotlight together and said they are not done fighting.
Justices affirm delinquency in Seymour school plot
The Indiana Supreme Court upheld Thursday the juvenile delinquency adjudication of a sophomore who was found to have plotted to shoot up and blow up Seymour High School during the 2015-2016 school year.
Domestic violence coalition grows network of lawyers to help survivors
The Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s Satellite Attorney Program offers free civil legal services to low-income victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. The program has a network of just over 100 attorneys across Indiana and, since January 2016, has provided legal advice or counsel, including direct representation, in roughly 350 cases.
COA: Parental privilege claims fail in spanking case
The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed a father’s battery conviction after finding he used an unreasonable amount of force when disciplining his 6-year-old child for speaking out of turn in her first-grade class.
Ex-VA police officer gets prison for patient’s rough arrest
A former Veterans Affairs police officer who authorities say repeatedly struck a patient outside a VA hospital in Indianapolis has been sentenced to a year in prison.
Jeff Miller resigns from City-County Council, pleads guilty to felonies
Embattled Indianapolis City-County Councilor Jeff Miller resigned from the council on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to four counts of battery. The developments cap a months-long saga in which Miller defied bipartisan calls to resign.
Coerced victim’s prior statement admissible, COA affirms
A victim unavailable to appear in court because of the defendant’s coercion to remain silent does not mean admitting her prior statements is considered hearsay, the Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed Monday.
COA: Errant CCS judgment entry can’t void murder retrial
The Indiana Court of Appeals ruled that retrials are not barred if a judgment of conviction is erroneously entered on a chronological case summary, letting stand a murder conviction after the retrial of a man charged with the death of his girlfriend’s infant daughter.
Lack of inmate program recommendation no issue on appeal, COA rules
A man sentenced to six years in prison for battering his father lost his argument on appeal that the trial court failed to recommend him for participation in a substance abuse treatment program. Placement in such programs are left to the discretion of the Department of Correction, the court noted.
Judge: Flashing GIF sent to provoke seizure may be battery
An epileptic seizure suffered by a journalist that was caused by a flashing strobe-like animated GIF sent on Twitter with the message “You deserve a seizure for your posts” may constitute battery, a federal judge in Texas ruled.
Divided COA orders dismissal of theft, battery charges
Theft and battery charges against a Marion County man must be dismissed after a majority of an Indiana Court of Appeals panel determined he was not brought to trial within 70 days, per his speedy trial request.
Attorney General argues reference to ISIS was not prosecutorial misconduct
Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill is asking the Indiana Supreme Court to review a case involving two Middle Eastern immigrants and references to terrorism which raises both a question of prosecutorial misconduct and an issue of first impression.
Divided appeals court reverses work release revocation
A trial court’s flawed analysis of two points of state law led the majority of an Indiana Court of Appeals panel to reverse an order that vacated a Clark County man’s placement in community corrections work release.
COA: Gun admissible under inevitable discovery rule
A gun was admissible as evidence in a battery trial despite its location through an unwarranted search because it inevitably would have been discovered, despite any Fourth Amendment violation, the Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled.