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.
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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.
Reversal: Man’s drug convictions again tossed for speedy-trial violation
A Clark County man has again had his drug-related convictions vacated after the Indiana Court of Appeals concluded he was entitled to have them discharged when his request for a speedy trial was not met.
10 Clark Co. inmates charged in alleged jail drug-smuggling scheme
Ten inmates at a southern Indiana jail are charged in an alleged scheme that authorities say used codes to help smuggle drugs into the jail. The Clark County Sheriff’s Office says the inmates worked with an outside contact who picked up drugs and hid them in the jail’s lobby, which inmates cleaned.
Probation revocation following positive drug tests affirmed
The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed the revocation of a Kentucky man’s previously suspended sentence for an Indiana conviction after he admitted to violating his probation when he tested positive for illegal substances.
State drug czar McClelland announces retirement
The state’s first drug czar is retiring, and his deputy director will replace him. Jim McClelland, who was appointed the state’s executive director for drug prevention, treatment and enforcement in January 2017, announced his retirement Thursday.
Michigan City mayor facing felony charges amid reelection bid
The 2019 Michigan City mayoral election is facing a controversial legal undercurrent as felony charges remain pending against Mayor Ron Meer. But as the LaPorte County court system searches for a judge who can take the case, Meer is alleging an “untenable conflict of interest” and possible political motivations should remove the proceedings from the LaPorte County Prosecutor’s Office.
Jury convicts Indianapolis man in 2017 triple slaying
A jury has convicted an Indianapolis man of murder in the 2017 slaying of three people.
Muncie woman gets 6 years for dousing guest with hot grease
A Muncie woman who pleaded guilty to dousing a house guest with a pan of hot grease has been sentenced to six years in prison. She told police she scalded her guest after accusing her of stealing deodorant.
Divided appeals court reverses habitual offender adjudication
A split Indiana Court of Appeals has reversed a man’s habitual offender adjudication after finding the state failed to bring him to trial within Indiana Criminal Rule 4(C)’s one-year statutory deadline.
Reasonable suspicion of drug activity prompts reversal in suppression case
The Indiana Court of Appeals on Wednesday reversed suppression of drug evidence in a man’s parole violation case that was found during a search of a rented storage unit.
Web Exclusive: Anti-doping counsel says athlete safety trumps sponsor preservation
Athlete well-being is paramount in sports. But the self-preservation of sponsors who support those athletes at times seems more important that ensuring their safety, an Indianapolis attorney and prominent anti-doping expert says.
Indiana mayor to name police chief after 3 resignations
The mayor of Michigan City will name a new police chief this week after the resignations of three senior officers. Mayor Ron Meer says he’ll hold a news conference Tuesday, after Police Chief Mark Swistek and assistant chiefs Royce Williams and Kevin Urbanczyk announced their resignations last week.
Former retreat now addiction center in southern Indiana
A former corporate retreat near Henryville in southern Indiana has reopened as a drug addiction treatment center. The Wooded Glen Recovery Center started taking patients during September. Community leaders joined executives of treatment provider Summit BHC for an opening ceremony this past week.
Michigan City police chief, deputies resign in dispute with mayor
The top brass of Michigan City’s police force resigned in the wake of a dispute with city’s mayor.
Drug evidence found from drone video admissible, COA rules
Video of suspected drug activity from a drone aircraft a woman found in her yard is admissible in court to try her neighbor on charges including dealing methamphetamine, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Thursday.
Man’s drug convictions tossed for speedy trial rule violation
A man who was convicted of drug-dealing charges and sentenced to 12 years in prison won a reversal Wednesday because his trial was wrongly continued when the state could not timely produce lab results. The appellate court noted a lengthy prosecutorial delay in providing the evidence for lab testing was to blame.
Chew on this: Positive meth test sufficient to affirm possession
A federal offender on supervised release argued that just because he tested positive for meth didn’t mean he had possessed it. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals had a bite-sized, easy-to-digest ruling Tuesday.
Indiana sues distributors in opioid epidemic
One day after three opioid distributors reached a $260 million tentative settlement with two Ohio counties, Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill filed a lawsuit also seeking damages from the same three companies, AmerisourceBergen Drug Corp., Cardinal Health and McKesson Corp.
Companies reach tentative deal to settle opioids lawsuit
The nation’s three dominant drug distributors and a big drugmaker have reached a tentative deal to settle a lawsuit related to the opioid crisis just as the first federal trial over the crisis was due to begin Monday in Cleveland, according to a lead lawyer for the local governments suing the drug industry.