Judge frees man held 3 years after molesting acquittals
A Portage man held without bond for three years has been acquitted of four counts of child molesting and ordered immediately released from jail.
Child Molesting
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Molest conviction affirmed; habitual offender waiver remanded
The Indiana Court of Appeals found a counsel’s mistake did not constitute judicial admission in a man’s trial when he was found guilty of molesting his stepdaughter. But the appeals court remanded his guilty plea for being a habitual offender, finding he did not waive his right to trial on the issue at court, his attorney did.
Split 7th Circuit affirms child abuse, firearms convictions
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a man’s child abuse and firearms convictions in a split decision. The court was divided over the admittance of the man's refusal to take a polygraph test into evidence.
7th Circuit affirms COA sentence in split decision
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in a split decision the Indiana Court of Appeals did not make any error in federal law when it upheld a man’s consecutive 40-year sentences for three convictions of child molestation.
Attorney: Child molest convict vows to support daughter
The attorney for an Indianapolis man sentenced to 12 years on probation for molesting his daughter says his client has promised to devote his life to financially support the girl since he has avoided prison.
COA re-enters molestation conviction, rejects evidence challenge
A trial court erred in vacating one of two convictions of Class A felony child molesting at a Dearborn County man’s sentencing, the Court of Appeals ruled Thursday. The panel also rejected the offender’s claim evidence should not have been admitted.
COA reaffirms reversal of molest convictions for vouching
The Indiana Court of Appeals clarified its position on rehearing Wednesday in the reversal of child molesting convictions that the state “vigorously argues” were erroneously ruled reversible error.
State performed due diligence charging man in 25-year-old attack
In a matter of first impression, the Indiana Court of Appeals held that state employees met the due diligence requirement of I.C. 35-41-4-2 regarding the statute of limitations in charging a man in 2013 for an attack on a 10-year-old girl in 1988.
Facebook message, other evidence proper in molester’s trial
Evidence including a Facebook message sent to a 15-year-old girl was properly admitted in the trial of a man convicted of sexually abusing her at knifepoint, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday.
Child interviewer’s vouching testimony reverses molest convictions
A man convicted of three counts of Class A felony child molesting must be retried because the trial court erred by admitting testimony from a forensic interviewer who said there was no evidence the alleged victims had been coached.
Study: Child sexual assault ‘far too common’ in Indiana
A report by the Global Health Communication Center at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis states that adolescent sexual assault is “far too common” in the state.
Jailhouse calls to girlfriend urging sex with son properly admitted
A jailed man’s 15 phone calls with his girlfriend urging her to have sex with her learning-disabled son to show he wasn’t gay were properly admitted as evidence that led to his conviction of conspiracy to commit child molesting.
Molestation charge dropped against committed incompetent defendant
A child molestation charge must be dropped against an incompetent defendant who’s been in psychiatric hospitals longer than he could have been imprisoned had he been convicted, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Friday.
Letter to victim’s mother supports lesser misdemeanor charge
A defendant’s rambling letter to a victim’s mother was not enough to uphold his convictions for attempted obstruction of justice and invasion of privacy, but it was sufficient to support a lesser charge.
Justices affirm molestation conviction despite vouching testimony
A man’s conviction of Class C felony child molestation was affirmed Thursday by the Indiana Supreme Court, which held that even though improper vouching testimony was admitted in error, the defendant failed to preserve the issue for appeal.
Trial court had discretion in allowing hearsay statements into evidence
A trial court, which excused two young girls from testifying against their abuser at trial and instead allowed their prior statements to be admitted into evidence, did not abuse its discretion, the Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled.
Bungled recording does not violate constitutional rights
An Anderson man’s argument that his due process rights were violated by law enforcement’s failure to record the audio from two interviews with his daughters did not convince the Indiana Court of Appeals.
In 3-2 decision, justices reinstate molestation conviction
A 3-2 decision of the Indiana Supreme Court on Thursday reinstated a Class A felony child molestation conviction that the Court of Appeals reversed because the defendant was denied opportunities to admit evidence.
Court split over whether man must remain on sex offender registry
An Indiana man who committed Class A felony child molesting in 1988 will remain on the Indiana Sex Offender Registry, a divided Court of Appeals held Wednesday.
Judicial candidate serving as juror was not fundamental error
A man convicted of child molesting argued that an attorney and judicial candidate should not have been allowed to serve as a juror on his trial. But he failed to object to her placement on the jury at the time of the trial, and the Indiana Court of Appeals rejected his claim of fundamental error.