3 arrested in connection with slaying, kidnapping in Kokomo
Three men have been arrested in connection with a woman’s killing in Kokomo and the alleged kidnapping of a man discovered bound in a bathtub, police said Thursday.
Criminal Confinement
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Rapist loses appeal of assault convictions against ex
A convicted rapist has failed to overturn his convictions of sexual assault against his ex-girlfriend, with the Indiana Court of Appeals rejecting his challenges to the trial court’s evidentiary and procedural rulings.
Dismissal reversed in teen child-molesting case
A young adult accused of child molesting when he was a teenager has had his granted motion to dismiss a delinquency petition against him reversed. The Indiana Court of Appeals found the juvenile court had subject matter jurisdiction in the case.
COA: Son who threatened mom with unloaded pellet gun used ‘deadly weapon’
A man whose felony convictions in a domestic violence case were enhanced because he possessed and used a weapon that turned out to be an unloaded and possibly broken pellet gun lost his appeal arguing the charges against him were wrongly aggravated and that he was a victim of double jeopardy.
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.
Gary official charged with kidnapping teen after car theft
The president of the Gary City Council faces charges alleging he kidnapped a 14-year-old boy he believed was involved in stealing his car. Ronald Brewer was charged Thursday with kidnapping, criminal confinement and intimidation.
Battery convictions upheld for man who shot neighbor with nail gun
A man who bound his neighbors with zip ties, accused them of being police informants and shot one victim several times with a nail gun did not convince the Indiana Court of Appeals that his battery convictions constituted double jeopardy.
COA upholds 75-year sentence in kidnapping, confinement
A man who stalked and kidnapped two women at gunpoint and led police on a vehicle chase couldn’t persuade the Indiana Court of Appeals to reduce his aggregate 75-year sentence.
Convicted Indiana sex offender charged with raping Amish woman
An Elkhart man with felony rape and child molestation convictions on his record has been charged with sexually assaulting an Amish woman last month in Marshall County. The Elkhart Truth reports 49-year-old Michael Middaugh is charged with rape, burglary with an armed weapon and criminal confinement.
Ex-prosecutor Cooper suspended after guilty pleas
Former Johnson County Prosecutor Bradley Cooper has been suspended from the practice of law in Indiana after being sentenced on three felony domestic battery charges last month.
Prosecutor to victim: ‘I did it’; court accepts Cooper’s domestic violence plea
Johnson County Prosecutor Bradley Cooper told his domestic violence victim and former fiancee in court Wednesday “I did it … I did it all” as a judge accepted his guilty plea to felony counts that terminated his ability to serve in his elected office. Also Wednesday, the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission moved to suspend Cooper from the practice of law.
Johnson County prosecutor Cooper to resign after domestic battery sentencing
Johnson County Prosecutor Bradley Cooper will resign from his elected office Wednesday after he is sentenced for felony and misdemeanor domestic battery charges, according to court records.
COA reduces counts in armed burglary of elderly Franklin couple
A man’s burglary conviction has been reduced from a Level 1 felony after he broke into an elderly couple’s Franklin home and bound them at gunpoint before stealing weapons, money and their car. An appellate panel concluded that injury to the elderly man’s mind did not qualify as a bodily injury.
Holcomb ceremonially signs victims rights bill
A victims rights bill inspired by a mother attempting to protect her underage daughter from a sexual predator’s grooming tactics was ceremonially signed Wednesday by Gov. Eric Holcomb, with support from the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council.
Domestic battery, confinement convictions upheld against abusive boyfriend
A man who severely beat his girlfriend and held her hostage for several hours has lost his appeal of his domestic battery and criminal confinement convictions.
COA upholds domestic battery convictions after ‘vicious’ beating
A southern Indiana man accused of brutally beating and confining his girlfriend has lost his appeal of his domestic battery-related convictions, with the Indiana Court of Appeals rejecting his evidentiary challenges.
Prosecutor Cooper facing 540 days of probation for guilty pleas
Elected Johnson County prosecutor Bradley D. Cooper pleaded guilty Monday to felony and misdemeanor charges, including criminal confinement and domestic battery. A plea agreement calls for him to serve 540 days of probation.
Judge miffed by defendant’s casual clothing delays hearing
A northwestern Indiana judge was so miffed that a defendant dressed down for a court hearing that she postponed it and told him to dress nicer next time.
Split 7th Circuit slams Indiana attorneys in grant of habeas petition
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals granted a man’s habeas corpus petition — and offered harsh comments for Indiana defense attorneys — after finding ineffective assistance of counsel for a man whose attorney blatantly disregarded an opportunity to object to amended charges filed late.
Man’s 33-year sentence, admission of heroin evidence upheld
A man who allegedly held two women against their will and beat them in his Fort Wayne home and later was found holding heroin lost his appeal Friday. An appellate court rejected his challenge to the admission of evidence against him as well as his appeal of his aggregate 33½-year sentence.