Burglary - The Indiana Lawyer

Justices urged to clear Putnam Co. prosecutor over undisclosed testimony deal

January 5, 2021 | Dave Stafford

The elected Putnam County prosecutor should not be disciplined for accusations that he failed to disclose a deal for testimony from a witness who claimed he was wrongly identified, placing him in danger behind bars as a “snitch.” The hearing officer in Timothy Bookwalter’s attorney discipline case said the prosecutor violated no rules, should not be punished and urged the Indiana Supreme Court to re-examine the ethical duties of prosecutors.

Man loses post-conviction appeal seeking probation, not parole

December 31, 2020 | Dave Stafford

A man who unsuccessfully argued that he should be released to parole rather than probation failed to persuade the Indiana Court of Appeals on Thursday.

Justices reverse, remand denial of expungement petition

December 23, 2020 | Katie Stancombe

A trial court has been ordered to reconsider its decision to deny a man his petition for expungement of a crime he committed nearly 20 years ago after the Indiana Supreme Court found him to be eligible.

Indiana man convicted of killing, cannibalism files appeal

November 6, 2020

A southern Indiana man convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend and eating parts of her body has filed a notice of appeal in Clark County.

COA affirms order to produce informant for face-to-face interview

November 2, 2020 | Katie Stancombe

Following several failed attempts to interview a confidential informant without compromising the informant’s identity, the Indiana Court of Appeals on Monday affirmed an order requiring the CI to have a face-to-face interview with opposing counsel.

SCOTUS rejects Indiana sword fight killer’s appeal, 4 other Hoosier cases

October 20, 2020 | IL Staff

The United States Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from an Indiana man convicted of killing his great-uncle in a 2009 sword fight that also took the life of the man’s grandmother. The case is one of five Indiana criminal, juvenile justice or post-conviction cases denied certiorari Monday by the high court.

Jeffersonville man guilty of killing, cannibalism gets life term

October 14, 2020 | Associated Press

A southern Indiana man convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend and eating parts of her body was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison without parole.

Jury convicts Jeffersonville man accused of killing, cannibalism

September 21, 2020 | Associated Press

A southern Indiana man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend and eating parts of her body was convicted of a murder charge Friday.

30-year sentence affirmed for teen linked to killing of IU doctor, educator

August 21, 2020 | Katie Stancombe

The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed a young adult’s decades-long sentence for felony burglary convictions that stemmed from several residential break-ins he committed as a teen, finding that his sentence is not inappropriate.

Justice Department schedules 2 additional federal executions

August 3, 2020 | Associated Press

The Justice Department scheduled two additional federal executions on Friday, an announcement that comes weeks after it fought off last-minute legal challenges and successfully resumed federal executions following a 17-year pause.

COA affirms 20-year sentence for woman who stole from employer

July 9, 2020 | Katie Stancombe

A decades-long sentence has been affirmed for a woman who stole personal items from her former employer after being told she wouldn’t receive back wages after the business went under.

Marion County prosecutor: No charges for nonviolent protesters

June 1, 2020 | IL Staff

Nonviolent protesters who were arrested during weekend protests in Indianapolis that turned violent will not be charged, Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears announced in a press release Monday.

Burglar who said he was trying to help sister get dialysis loses appeal

April 8, 2020 | Dave Stafford

A Lake County man sentenced to 16 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to two burglaries could not persuade an appellate court to lighten his punishment because he said he broke into homes in part to help his sister “get to dialysis.”

Judge denies man’s bid to withdraw plea in Indy doctor’s slaying

February 28, 2020 | Associated Press

A 19-year-old man who pleaded guilty in the fatal shooting of a prominent Indianapolis doctor faces decades behind bars after a judge refused to allow him to back out of his plea deal. Devon Seats pleaded guilty in January to murder and three counts of burglary in the November 2017 slaying of Dr. Kevin Rodgers, who was fatally shot in his home on Indianapolis’ northwest side.

Supreme Court upholds Arizona death sentence

February 25, 2020 | Associated Press

A sharply divided United States Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the death sentence for an Arizona inmate who was convicted of killing two people in home burglaries nearly 30 years ago.

COA rejects separation-of-powers argument in probation revocation appeal

February 19, 2020 | Katie Stancombe

A man contesting the revocation of his probation did not convince the Indiana Court of Appeals that an Indiana statute violates the separation-of-powers provisions of the Indiana Constitution. The appellate court instead found, based on its own precedent, that the statute is not unconstitutional.

Reversal: Burglary conspiracy expungement petition wrongly dismissed

February 19, 2020 | Katie Stancombe

A man’s petition for expungement of his criminal record for his involvement as a lookout during a residential burglary almost 20 years ago has been reinstated after the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that a southeast Indiana trial court erred in dismissing it.

7th Circuit upholds enhanced firearm sentence under ACCA

February 4, 2020 | Katie Stancombe

A firearm-related sentence that was enhanced by prior felonies has been affirmed, despite subsequent developments in the law that the defendant argued made his sentence inappropriate.

Burglary conviction upheld in dispute over pet cats

December 5, 2019 | Katie Stancombe

A man who battered and blinded another man for sending his pet cats to an animal shelter lost his appeal of his felony burglary conviction Wednesday.

Fitbit bandit’s convictions upheld, but 1 count erroneously entered

November 27, 2019 | Dave Stafford

A man who orchestrated the heist of a big rig trailer filled with Fitbits lost his appeal Wednesday, but a panel of judges tossed one of the convictions entered against the thief after finding it didn’t jibe with the jury’s verdict.

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