Sister of kidnapped Indianapolis siblings gets probation
An Indianapolis woman whose two teenage siblings were kidnapped and held for ransom won't serve any jail time for her involvement in the case.
Drugs
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Reynolds wins at US high court in EU drug-money lawsuit
A divided U.S. Supreme Court threw out a European Union suit that accused Reynolds American Inc. of orchestrating a global scheme to launder drug money, in a ruling that limits the reach of a federal racketeering law that can impose heavy damage awards.
Novel FedEx drug-shipping case left to skeptical judge at trial
Proving to jurors that FedEx Corp. is a criminal because it delivered illegal prescriptions from Internet drug stores was never going to be easy. Convincing a federal judge who questioned the “novel prosecution” may be even tougher.
Obama commutes drug sentence of South Bend man
President Barack Obama has commuted the 20-year sentence of a South Bend man imprisoned in 2004 after pleading guilty to federal drug-trafficking charges.
States ban kratom supplement over abuse worries
Kratom, a little-known plant-based substance often sold as an herbal supplement to address chronic pain, is raising alarm bells in states concerned that it could be as addictive as heroin.
COA: Search under probation did not violate Fourth Amendment
The Indiana Court of Appeals found a warrantless search of property did not violate a man’s Fourth Amendment and Indiana Constitutional rights and upheld the denial of his motion to suppress evidence after he was convicted of two methamphetamine counts.
COA upholds conviction, trims sentence in heroin case
The Indiana Court of Appeals upheld a man’s conviction but reduced his sentence for dealing heroin even though he didn’t actually participate in the transaction in one of the counts.
Statewide crisis of CHINS stretches judicial resources
The increase in filings of juvenile children in need of services petitions across the state has been growing steadily since 2011 but ballooned to 14,227 in 2014 and could likely top 17,500 for 2015.
Indiana sues to keep silver bars, coins seized from property
The state of Indiana is suing to retain ownership of 458 silver bars valued at $220,000 that were seized from a northern Delaware County property last November.
Scientific basis for laws on marijuana, driving questioned
Six states that allow marijuana use have legal tests to determine driving while impaired by the drug that have no scientific basis, according to a study by the nation's largest automobile club that calls for scrapping those laws.
Gilead judge re-opens case amid claim Merck scientist lied
A federal judge re-opened Merck & Co.’s patent case against Gilead Sciences Inc. over a hepatitis C drug amid claims that an ex-Merck scientist lied to a jury that awarded the company $200 million in damages.
Nebraska, Oklahoma join suit to halt Colorado marijuana law
Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson and his counterpart in Oklahoma are joining a lawsuit aimed at halting legal marijuana in Colorado.
Wayne County prosecutor creates drug treatment program
An eastern Indiana prosecutor is starting a new treatment program for drug offenders that he hopes will end the cycle of addiction.
Supreme Court upholds felony dealing conviction
The Indiana Supreme Court affirmed a man's conviction for Class A felony dealing in a narcotic drug within 1,000 feet of school property and being a habitual substance offender. The decision went against the Indiana Court of Appeals, which overturned his conviction based on lack of evidence.
COA: Time expired in bringing criminal trial
The Indiana Court of Appeals reversed a man’s felony and misdemeanor charges after it found the state did not bring him to trial within a 365-day time period.
7th Circuit: Prisoner denied due process
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled a prisoner could not defend the possession of heroin charge against him and thus remanded his case for rehearing.
Painkiller distributors face trials
Insurer argues to 7th Circuit Court of Appeals that it has no duty to defend in opioid prescription suit.
Judge accepts 3rd plea deal in Granger party overdose case
A South Bend judge has accepted a third plea agreement for a teenager accused of bringing drugs to a party that two brothers attended before dying of overdoses.
Man must pay to clean up meth mess, court affirms
The Indiana Court of Appeals ruled a man must pay to clean up the remnants of his meth lab after it found Indiana Code justified the payment and there was a victim to whom restitution should be paid.
Pharmacists, state court administration enlisted in fight against meth labs
A comprise bill that would allow pharmacists to deny the sale of over-the-counter medicines containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine was signed into law Monday.