Indiana woman gets 7 years for tampering with her son’s IV
A northwestern Indiana woman has been sentenced to seven years in prison for injecting fecal matter into her teenage son’s IV line while he was hospitalized for leukemia.
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Prosecutors: Deeply-in-debt Michael Avenatti sought payday
Prosecutors say high-profile California attorney Michael Avenatti was over $15 million in debt when he tried to extort up to $25 million from Nike, while Avenatti’s lawyers say the money he legally requested to conduct an internal probe of the sportswear giant was a bargain. Both sides made the assertions in court papers filed late Tuesday in advance of a Jan. 22 criminal trial in Manhattan.
Year in Review: Baer death penalty reversal most-read IL story of 2019
A federal appeals court’s reversal of Madison County killer Fredrick Baer’s death sentence was the most-read story on the Indiana Lawyer’s digital edition, www.theindianalawyer.com. Indiana Lawyer readers clicked on stories on our website more than 2.6 million times between Jan. 1 and Dec. 10, 2019, according to Google Analytics. Here are the 50 most-viewed story headlines during that time.
Year in Review: Several attorneys’ lawlessness, recklessness gave lawyers a bad name in past year
Most Hoosier attorneys will never face a formal disciplinary complaint for misconduct. But in 2019, the bad behavior of a few lawyers resulted in professional sanctions or criminal charges. Here is a look back at some of the most egregious professional lowlights from the past year.
Year in Review: In 2019, troubles dominated legal news
When those in the legal community look back at 2019, they may turn their heads and look forward instead. While the year had bright spots, several sordid sagas dominated the headlines.
2 northwest Indiana men charged with arson killing
Two northwestern Indiana men have been charged with murder and arson in the death of a third man in a house fire, Indiana State Police said Thursday.
Lake County man’s 5-year sentence for shooting upheld
The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed that a Lake County man’s five-year sentence for shooting someone multiple times must be served despite his pre-sentencing rehabilitation efforts.
Indiana prison official charged with molesting child
The technology director at the Indiana Department of Correction has been charged with molesting a child at his home on prison property in Pendleton.
Indiana parents of girl who fell to her death sue cruise company
The parents of a toddler who fell to her death out of an open cruise ship window in Puerto Rico filed a lawsuit Wednesday against Royal Caribbean Cruises, accusing the company of negligence by allowing the window to be opened.
Split COA affirms ex-doctor’s probation revocation
An order for a former doctor involved in a pill mill scheme to serve thousands of days in jail for violating probation has been affirmed. A divided Indiana Court of Appeals panel concluded there was enough evidence to prove a new offense was committed.
Lake County might ease up on prosecuting marijuana possession
A northwestern Indiana county near Michigan and Illinois is proposing to relax penalties for marijuana possession after the neighboring states legalized pot use.
Courts as conveners: Task force led by Rush releases recommendations for judicial response to opioid crisis
The National Judicial Opioid Task Force was created in 2017 to delve into ways the judiciary could get a handle on the opioid crisis. Co-chaired by Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush, the task force’s work culminated late last month in the release of a report that includes four findings and six recommendations for how courts can respond to the current drug scourge and be better prepared for the next addiction crisis.
COA: Song detailing triple-murder scene was admissible evidence
The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed a man’s murder convictions, finding a song he wrote and posted online that closely described the murder scene just months later was admissible evidence.
Rehearing: COA improperly applied continuous crime doctrine in rape case
A man’s strangulation conviction associated with a rape conviction in the same case will remain vacated despite an appellate panel’s agreement on rehearing that it improperly applied the continuous crime doctrine to his conviction.
Denial of belated drug-dealing sentence appeal affirmed
The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of an Orange County man’s petition to file a belated appeal of his sentence, finding he had waived that right upon agreeing to a plea deal.
Ohio woman gets 7 years in fatal wrong-way highway crash
An Ohio woman who pleaded guilty in New Castle to a deadly wrong-way interstate crash in eastern Indiana was sentenced Tuesday to seven years in prison. The 19-year-old victim’s mother decried the sentence and called on lawmakers to toughen sentences for drunken driving resulting in a death.
COA tosses belated probation revocation appeal
Indiana Supreme Court rulings do not permit a belated appeal of a probation revocation, the Indiana Court of Appeals held in dismissing a man’s appeal in such a case Thursday.
Elkhart drug offender granted Holcomb’s first sentence commutation
A convicted drug offender from northern Indiana will be released from prison about 1½ years early after Gov. Eric Holcomb commuted his sentence. The order issued Wednesday was the first sentence commutation during Holcomb’s term.
Fort Wayne man gets suspended sentence for molesting 2 teens
A Fort Wayne man who once faced 13 charges related to child molesting has avoided time in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of sexual misconduct with a minor.
Gary councilman pleads not guilty in kidnapping case
A Gary, Indiana councilman has pleaded not guilty to charges he kidnapped, confined and intimidated a teenager he believed was involved in the theft of his automobile.