No charges in Indiana day care attack that hurt 1-year-old
A prosecutor won’t file charges in an attack at an Indianapolis day care that left a 1-year-old boy’s lips and face scratched and swollen.
Child Abuse
Articles
Justices rule anti-SLAPP law no defense to malpractice claim
A medical malpractice suit filed against a doctor who reported his suspicions of child abuse to the Department of Child Services will proceed after the Indiana Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the state’s anti-SLAPP laws do not apply to this case.
COA reverses CHINS petitions after untimely factfinding hearing
The Tipton Circuit Court must dismiss children in need of services petitions filed for two local children after it failed to hold a related factfinding hearing within the statutory time limit, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday.
COA upholds man’s convictions for molesting teenage relative
A northern Indiana man convicted of molesting a teenage relative has lost his appeal of his two felony convictions after the Indiana Court of Appeals found neither the trial court nor the man’s trial counsel erred.
Jeffersonville man accused of molesting 19 kids faces sixth suit
A Jeffersonville man charged with molesting 19 children faces a sixth civil lawsuit stemming from that alleged abuse. The lawsuit filed March 12 on behalf of one of Michael Begin Jr.’s alleged victims names the 18-year-old Jeffersonville man, the Greater Clark School Corporation and YMCA of Southern Indiana Inc. as defendants.
DCS, CHINS bills continue to sail through Statehouse
A slew of bills aimed at helping youngsters designated as children in need of services and another targeting overdue child support payments cleared legislative committees Wednesday with no opposing votes.
Child pornography arrest the latest sign in growing trend
A Scott County man’s arrest on child pornography charges by the Indiana State Police is the latest sign of a growing trend reported by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Kentucky lawyer last of gymnastics doctor’s victims to testify
One of the first athletes to accuse Larry Nassar of sexual assault confronted him Wednesday in a Lansing, Michigan, courtroom where the former sports doctor was due to be sentenced for years of molesting Olympic gymnasts and other young women.
RFRA’s unintended consequences
Indiana Senate Bill 101, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, was signed by then-Gov. Mike Pence on March 26, 2015. An amendment was then signed the following month. Since, RFRA has been cited in a few unexpected ways.
Problems persist as director quits DCS
The departure of Mary Beth Bonaventura as director of the Indiana Department of Child Services surprised several family law attorneys and social service providers. Uniformly, they agreed the former Lake County juvenile judge was a strong advocate for children and brought valuable experience to her tenure. Still, the department has struggled against internal and external challenges.
Babysitter’s serious neglect convictions, sentence affirmed
A babysitter convicted of inflicting a life-threatening head injury on an infant in her care lost her appeal of her felony convictions and sentence after the Indiana Court of Appeals determined neither court error nor insufficient evidence warranted reversal.
COA rejects father’s argument that his kids should be CHINS
Although a Tippecanoe County father appealed the denial of a petition alleging his children were children in need of services, the Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled the father’s arguments as to why his children should be considered CHINS were unavailing.
Divided justices rule for DCS after child abuse reporter ID’d
A divided Indiana Supreme Court has affirmed summary judgment for the Department of Child Services after one of its employees revealed the name of a child abuse reporter, finding there was no statutory or common law basis to impose a duty of confidentiality.
Indiana changes school child abuse reporting procedures
Indiana school employees are now required to report suspected child abuse or neglect directly to the Department of Child Services or local law enforcement instead of first notifying a school administrator.
COA: Doctor’s report to DCS not protected by anti-SLAPP statute
A doctor who reported medical child abuse to the Department of Child Services was not protected by the state’s anti-SLAPP statute, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Friday in a case of first impression.
Clarksville man gets 35 years in abuse death of 3-year-old
A southern Indiana man has been sentenced to 35 years in prison after pleading guilty in the child abuse death of his former girlfriend's 3-year-old daughter.
Clarksville man changes mind, takes deal in abuse death
A southern Indiana man has reversed himself again and agreed to plead guilty in the child abuse death of his former girlfriend's 3-year-old daughter.
Delaware County approves $16K for dog to help kids in court
Delaware County officials have approved plans to acquire a service dog to aid young people in the juvenile court system.
9 charged after toddler found locked inside box
Authorities in northern Indiana have charged three people with neglect after a 3-year-old girl was found locked inside a wooden box for extended periods of time.
Ex-USA Gymnastics doctor charged with sex abuse
A former USA Gymnastics team doctor pleaded not guilty Tuesday to three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in his Michigan home with a girl under 13.