Articles

Opinions Nov. 22, 2023

Court of Appeals of Indiana
In the Termination of the Parent-Child Relationship of: A.L. and N.L. (Minor Children), And M.L. (Father) and L.L. (Mother) v. Indiana Department of Child Services
23A-JT-1076
Juvenile termination of parental rights. Affirms the Lawrence Circuit Court’s termination of M.L. and L.L.’s parental rights to minor children N.L. and A.L. Finds the trial court did not abuse its discretion by refusing to admit certain evidence requested by the parents. Also finds the Indiana Department of Child Services presented sufficient evidence to support its petitions to terminate the parent-child relationship.

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Opinions Nov. 21, 2023

Court of Appeals of Indiana
In the Matter of B.M., C.M., and S.M. (Minor Children), Children in Need of Services, and N.M. (Father) v. Indiana Department of Child Services

23A-JC-1285
Juvenile CHINS. Affirms the DeKalb Circuit Court’s child-in-need-of-services adjudications for father N.M.’s children, B.M., C.M. and S.M. Finds the trial court did not abuse its discretion by denying counsel’s motion to withdraw at the start of the factfinding hearing. Also finds sufficient evidence supports the CHINS adjudications.

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Opinions Nov. 20, 2023

Court of Appeals of Indiana
Steven Slater, Jr. v. State of Indiana
22A-CR-3060
Criminal. Affirms Steven Slater’s convictions in Allen Superior Court of Level 6 felony possession of methamphetamine and Class A misdemeanor resisting law enforcement, his adjudication as a habitual offender, and the revocation of his probation as a result of his new convictions. Finds the state presented sufficient evidence to support Slater’s convictions. Also finds his aggregate eight-year sentence in F6-1027 is not inappropriate given the nature of his offenses and his character. Finally, finds the trial court did not abuse its discretion in ordering Slater to serve the entirety of his previously suspended sentence.

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Opinions Nov. 16, 2023

Court of Appeals of Indiana
Steven E. Malloch v. State of Indiana
22A-PC-2053
Post-conviction relief. Affirms the DeKalb Superior Court’s denial of Steven Malloch’s petition for post-conviction relief. Finds Malloch’s trial attorney, John Bohdan, did not perform deficiently by not calling an expert witness about false confessions at Malloch’s trial because he pursued other strategies calculated to sow doubt regarding the veracity of Malloch’s confession. Also finds Bohdan didn’t perform deficiently when he did not call a sleep expert who could not provide an opinion supportive of Malloch or a sleep expert who would have been a reluctant and equivocal witness at best.

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