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.
Child Abuse
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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.
Justices weigh whether child abuse reporter can sue DCS for breach of confidentiality
A southern Indiana church van driver who suspected children to be in need of services due to dangerous living conditions in his small community followed the law requiring him to report his suspicions. He didn’t want to provide his name, but he did so after a Department of Child Services hotline worker assured him his identity would remain confidential, as the law also requires.
Fort Wayne mom says she decided to kill kids after Amber Alert
A Fort Wayne woman accused of smothering her two children after abducting them said she decided to kill them after hearing that authorities had issued an Amber Alert.
Crawfordsville man gets 30 years in infant son’s death
A 26-year-old Indiana man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison in the beating death of his infant son.
Underwood man found guilty in death of son, 4
Jurors in Jeffersonville have convicted an Underwood man of battery and neglect in the death of his 4-year-old son.
Indiana man awaits sentencing in June death of infant son
A 26-year-old Indiana man is awaiting sentencing in the death of his infant son after a plea agreement was reached in the case.
Indianapolis couple convicted in toddler’s death
A Marion County jury convicted a mother and her boyfriend in the death of the mother’s 1-year-old son.