Senate panel OKs compensation for the wrongfully convicted
A measure advancing in the Indiana Senate would compensate residents found to have been wrongfully convicted and imprisoned.
Criminal Case
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COA considers denial of joint motion for mistrial
A traveling appellate panel heard argument concerning an “unusual” instance of a trial court’s denial of a joined motion for mistrial Tuesday, considering whether the state’s sudden change of position had any impact on the case going forward.
COA: Probation officers protected under quasi-judicial immunity
An inmate ordered to serve the reminder of his sentence after violating his probation lost his argument against several probation officers involved in his case when the Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the officers were protected under quasi-judicial immunity.
Justices reinstate conviction despite jury instruction error
Despite disproving of a jury instruction used to convict a man of felony resisting law enforcement, the Indiana Supreme Court reinstated his resisting conviction on Monday after finding the instruction error was harmless.
Justices’ ruling sparks conversation about PCR for noncitizens
Earlier this month, a 3-2 majority of the Indiana Supreme Court granted post-conviction relief to noncitizen Angelo Bobadilla, finding deficient counsel performance and prejudice. But dissenting justices raised concerns about the ruling inappropriately expanding the PCR analysis.
Reversal: Pre-trial home detainees entitled to credit time
A man previously denied earned credit time against his sentence received good news Friday when an appellate court reversed, finding he was wrongly denied his request. The court held pre-trial home detainees entitled to accrued time credit.
Police: Suspected Indiana burglar crushed by 900-pound safe
Police in Marion say a suspected burglar was apparently crushed to death when a more than 900-pound antique safe fell over onto him.
California governor signs moratorium on executions
The 737 inmates on the nation’s largest death row got a reprieve from California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday when he signed an executive order placing a moratorium on executions.
Relief petition filed after 15 years too late, COA says
A man seeking relief from his convictions was rejected when the Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of his petition, finding he was too late after delaying his filing 15 years.
Manafort sentenced to 3½ years more, faces new charges
A federal judge has sentenced former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort to more than 3½ additional years in prison. The sentence comes a week after Manafort was sentenced to nearly four years in prison for his bank and tax fraud convictions.
Justices grant transfer in three juvenile, young adult cases
The Indiana Supreme Court chose to grant transfer to three cases during the past week, including commitments to the Indiana Department of Corrections. The court also granted transfer and decided a case granting relief to a deported “Dreamer.”
‘Full House’ star to surrender in college admissions scandal
Fallout from a sweeping college admissions scandal swiftly spread Wednesday, with a Silicon Valley hedge fund replacing its leader and “Full House” actress Lori Loughlin expected to surrender and appear in court in Los Angeles.
Eastern Indiana farmer charged after dead cows found
An eastern Indiana farmer faces charges after 38 dead cows were found on his property in West College Corner in Union County.
Fort Wayne woman pleads guilty in hammer attack on ex-husband
A northeastern Indiana woman accused of placing a plastic bag over her ex-husband’s head and beating him with a hammer is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to attempted murder.
Manafort gets 47 months; Trump feels ‘very badly’ for ex-campaign chair
Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison for tax and bank fraud related to his work advising Ukrainian politicians, much less than what was called for under federal sentencing guidelines.
Justices: Admission of warrantless cell location data was harmless
Even though law enforcement conducted a warrantless Fourth Amendment search when they accessed of a man’s cellphone location data, the admission of the data does not warrant a new trial because any error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt, the Indiana Supreme Court ruled Friday, upholding a man’s four convictions in a case heard on remand from the U.S. Supreme Court.
Virginia Supreme Court clears Indiana man in 1975 rape
The Supreme Court of Virginia has cleared an Indiana man in the 1975 rape of a Virginia woman, issuing a writ of actual innocence Thursday based on DNA evidence.
COA to travel for three arguments next week
Three Appeals on Wheels oral arguments will be heard next week, involving wrongful termination of a hospital employee, suppression of evidence from a pat-down search and a hotel’s appeal of granted possession.
COA traveling to North Manchester, Valparaiso for oral arguments
The Indiana Court of Appeals will travel north this week to hear oral arguments in two cases involving narcotics and murder.
Howard County sending texts to defendants about hearings
A central Indiana county has started sending text messages to criminal defendants to remind them about their upcoming court hearings. Howard County authorities hope the texting service that began in February can hold down the county jail’s population and reduce the resources law enforcement must devote to tracking down people who miss court appearances.