Woman loses sentence appeal in daughter’s neglect death
A Chesterfield mother who pleaded guilty to neglect of a dependent resulting in the death of her 23-month old daughter has lost an appeal of her 40-year sentence.
Criminal
Articles
COA to hear insanity murder case at Batesville High School
A traveling panel of the Indiana Court of Appeals will head southeast this week to hear oral argument in a murder case that considers Indiana’s legal standard for insanity.
Majority justices remand Land Rover forfeiture case for excessiveness analysis
An Indiana civil forfeiture case that made its way to the United States Supreme Court will now return to the Grant Superior Court after the Indiana Supreme Court developed a framework for determining if the forfeiture of property is excessive under the Eighth Amendment.
Purdue student faces rape charges in sex assault at party
Authorities say a college student from New Jersey faces rape charges in the assault of a woman at a fraternity party off Purdue University’s campus.
7th Circuit overturns habeas relief for child molester
A convicted child molester’s 80-year sentence has once again been reinstated after the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the grant of a habeas petition. The appellate panel on Thursday reversed habeas relief that had been granted at the district court.
Supreme Court reaffirms death sentence in ‘brutal’ 2012, 2003 murders
The Indiana Supreme Court on Thursday reaffirmed the conviction and death sentence imposed on a Floyd County man convicted of two counts of murder in the 2012 strangulations of two women, as well as his 65-year sentence for a 2003 murder he confessed to after his arrest seven years ago.
Judgment for hospital affirmed in blood draw after drunken-driving crash
A man who was seriously injured in a car crash lost his appeal claiming his Fourth Amendment rights were violated when Fort Wayne hospital staff ordered a blood draw that was provided to police, leading to criminal drunken driving charges.
Georgia DA arrests Indiana inmate in 1991 fatal stabbing
A district attorney in Marietta, Georgia, credits her cold case unit for the arrest of a convicted burglar in Indiana in the stabbing of a Georgia woman back in 1991.
Federal grant fueling project to lower recidivism in Marion County
With more a third of the individuals from Marion County returning to incarceration within a year of being released, the city of Indianapolis is using a $1 million federal grant to launch a new three-year project to reduce the recidivism rate and improve outcomes.
Convicted molester loses appeal over barred internet search history
A man convicted and sentenced to 40 years in prison for molesting his 11-year-old daughter failed to convince the Indiana Court of Appeals that evidence of sexual internet searches he attributed to the victim was wrongly excluded from his trial.
SVF conviction upheld over search, prior felony objections
A man’s conviction for unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon will stand after the Indiana Court of Appeals found a warrantless search of the vehicle he was riding in at the time of his arrest did not violate federal or state constitutional protections.
Halt of simple pot prosecutions gets mixed reaction
Reactions have been mixed to the recent announcement that the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office will no longer prosecute cases of simple possession of less than 1 ounce of marijuana. Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears announced the new policy Sept. 30.
COA divided on motion for discharge argument in molestation case
A split Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed the denial of a man’s motion for discharge of his child molesting and child solicitation counts under Indiana Rule of Criminal Procedure 4(C), with a dissenting judge arguing that because proceedings were not stayed until months after an interlocutory appeal was filed and accepted, the tolling rule doesn’t apply.
Three judges involved in Indianapolis shooting now face discipline
Three judges involved in a May shooting in downtown Indianapolis are all now facing judicial discipline charges. Clark Circuit Judges Andrew Adams and Bradley Jacobs and Crawford Circuit Magistrate Judge Sabrina Bell each were charged Friday by the Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications in relation to the May 1 shooting at a downtown Indianapolis White Castle, and the events leading up to the shooting.
Denial of last-minute habitual offender amendment upheld in triple-fatal
A trial court’s denial of the state’s motion to amend the habitual offender charging information against a defendant hours before his scheduled trial date was upheld Thursday. The case involves a crash that killed three people after the suspect allegedly fled Evansville police.
Indianapolis man gets 53 years for murder of 1-year-old girl
An Indianapolis man has been sentenced to 53 years in prison for the fatal shooting of a 1-year-old girl and the wounding of her 19-year-old aunt.
Panelists urge counties to keep ‘open mind’ on pretrial release reform
Stakeholders from around Indiana shared experiences and expectations regarding pretrial release reform as the entire state moves toward a system less reliant on cash bail beginning in January.
COA splits on admission of counselor records in child molesting case
An adoptive father’s child molesting conviction will stand, a divided appellate court determined Tuesday, disagreeing as to whether privileged records from a one-on-one counseling session with the victim should be admitted.
Widower of lawmaker gets 55 years for killing attorney
The husband of a late Indiana legislator has been sentenced to 55 years in prison for the 2018 shooting death of a northwestern Indiana attorney.
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.