US Supreme Court upholds Oklahoma man’s death sentence
The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence of an Oklahoma man convicted in the fatal shooting of his lover’s estranged husband.
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Ex-deputy prosecutor who retaliated against detective suspended
A former Knox County chief deputy prosecutor has been suspended from the practice of law for abusing his prosecutorial authority as part of a retaliation campaign against a detective who discovered his sexual relationship with a criminal defendant. The elected Knox County prosecutor also faces a related disciplinary case, according to the Indiana Supreme Court.
Access to justice, voting rights, bail reform on ABA midyear meeting agenda
Rural communities’ access to justice, bail reform and ensuring voting rights for individuals with criminal convictions will be chief among several criminal justice topics set for discussion during next month’s 2020 American Bar Association Midyear Meeting.
Bill mandating harsher penalties for juveniles passes Senate committee
A bill increasing the penalties for juvenile offenders passed a Senate committee Tuesday night despite more than an hour of testimony from judges, attorneys, social workers, pastors and former inmates who all voiced strong and sometimes emotional opposition.
Holcomb says he supports gaming commission investigation into Centaur
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb on Monday said he supports the Indiana Gaming Commission’s investigation into casino executives who have been implicated in a federal campaign finance scheme.
Bill allowing 12-year-olds to be charged as adults headed to Senate committee
A bill mandating tougher penalties for juvenile defendants, including allowing 12-year-olds to be waived to adult court for attempted murder, is scheduled to be heard in a legislative committee Tuesday, but already strong opposition is mounting with both state and national organizations warning of the consequences.
Union workers involved in beatings plead guilty to extortion conspiracy
Two union members involved in a fight outside of a church in Lake County have pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act extortion conspiracy after attempting to obtain union contracts from two employers that refused to only hire local union workers.
Indiana casino approval delayed while state probes former Centaur execs
The Indiana Gaming Commission confirmed Friday that it is postponing approval of a new Indiana casino while it investigates allegations that top executives at former Indianapolis racino business Centaur Gaming were involved in directing illegal campaign contributions to an Indiana congressional candidate in 2015.
Justices consider procedures in OWI blood-draw suppression case
Indiana Supreme Court justices said Thursday they will have to determine whether to grant transfer in a wrong-way-driver case focused on the suppression of a post-crash blood draw from a driver who had been an Indianapolis police recruit.
Third woman charged in Indiana custody dispute slaying
A third woman has been charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a man near Portland, Indiana, that allegedly arose from a child custody dispute.
Senate Democrats push end to jail for minor marijuana possession
No more jail time. That’s what some Indiana Senate Democrats repeatedly said Thursday as they advocated for legislation aimed at limiting the number of individuals arrested for possession of marijuana. The bills, however, may not get a hearing in the Indiana General Assembly this year.
Web Exclusive: Expungement wait period case awaits justices
After more than 10 years with a criminal record, an Elkhart man successfully petitioned to reduce his felony conviction to a misdemeanor. But when he tried to expunge the conviction two years later, he faced an unexpected setback. The Indiana Supreme Court will decide whether he and others in his situation must wait longer for an expungement.
Creating collaborative communities: Rush stresses reforms
The importance of community collaboration in the criminal justice system — particularly through ongoing reform and problem-solving courts — was the key message of Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush’s 2020 State of the Judiciary address.
Suit over federal executions likely headed back to SCOTUS
Death penalty experts say they expect justices of the United States Supreme Court ultimately will decide whether federal executions will resume at the United States Penitentiary in Terre Haute.
7th Circuit affirms Indianapolis man’s robbery convictions
A man found guilty of robbing three Indianapolis beauty stores and attempting to rob another could not convince the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals that there wasn’t enough evidence to support his convictions, or that one did not qualify as a crime of violence under the Hobbs Act.
Former Carmel insurance firm employee charged with embezzling $2.1M
A former employee of Carmel-based Seven Corners Inc. has been indicted on a wire fraud charge for what prosecutors describe as a multiyear scheme that embezzled $2.1 million from the travel insurance company.
Former employee pleads guilty in $4.5M Cummins fraud case
A former employee accused of defrauding Indiana-based Cummins Inc. and other companies out of more than $4.5 million has pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.
Man’s conviction in Indianapolis CVS theft upheld
The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed a man’s theft conviction, finding testimony about what a law enforcement officer saw on a CVS pharmacy’s security footage did not violate the best evidence rule.
Bill revamps advisory group for Indiana criminal justice reform
A bill that would remake a key component of Indiana’s criminal code overhaul sailed through the House of Representatives on Tuesday with the author saying the measure will improve the efficiency of “one of the best things” that was included in the reform of the state’s criminal and sentencing statutes.
Southern District collects more than $3M in asset forfeiture in FY19
The Southern District of Indiana collected more than $10 million from criminal and civil actions and asset forfeitures in fiscal year 2019, with more than $3 million collected through asset forfeitures.