Special prosecutor named in Indianapolis councilman’s molestation case
A special prosecutor has been appointed to oversee the case against an Indianapolis City-County councilman charged with three counts of child molestation.
Hendricks County
Articles
Dog-bite case to proceed after COA reverses judgment for owners
A Brownsburg dog-bite case must proceed to trial after the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday there were genuine issues of material fact as to whether the dog owners breached their duty to the man who was attacked and, thus, reversed summary judgment.
New ILS project assists nonprofits serving the indigent
A new initiative launched at Indiana Legal Services is aimed at helping nonprofits with their legal needs. The Community Development Legal Project, which officially started in September, is designed to provide services to 501(c)(3) organizations that stretch their dollars to serve the indigent population and have little or no resources to spend on hiring attorneys to draft agreements, file for tax-exempt status, or handle other legal issues.
Rethinking bail: Pretrial release and apps among trends here and nationwide
The drumbeat to reexamine the practice of cash bail in Indiana and nationally has grown louder in recent years as jails groan under the weight of overpopulation. A court pilot program in Indiana assesses risk while a private initiative in New York uses computing power to raise money to pay bail for nonviolent arrestees.
Justices: 2015 habitual offender law set 10-year limit for past low-level felonies
The 2015 version of Indiana’s habitual offender statute requires an offender to have been released from all lower-level felonies within 10 years to establish a habitual offender enhancement, the Indiana Supreme Court. Justices reversed a trial court that overruled a reversal of a defendant’s objection to his habitual offender charges.
COA: Landlord must close on sale of rental property
A Hendricks County landlord must close on the sale of her property to a tenant after the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday there was no breach of a lease agreement preventing the enforcement of an Option to Purchase Real Estate Agreement.
Man charged in Indiana school threats to remain in custody
A California man charged with making online threats to blow up two suburban Indianapolis high schools will remain jailed while the case proceeds.
Man accused in Indiana school threats indicted on 26 counts
A federal grand jury in Indianapolis has returned a 26-count indictment against a California man charged with making online threats to blow up two suburban Indianapolis high schools.
Man injured in Hendricks County semi-truck accident wins $18.5M verdict
A 46-year old man severely injured in a crash with a semi-truck on I-74 in Hendricks County in 2013 was awarded $18.5 million by a jury last week.
Judge halts Brownsburg annexation
A Marion County judge has stopped an annexation by the town of Brownsburg, finding that while key parts of Indiana’s annexation statute are vague, the municipality did not show the area to be annexed had an urban character nor that it was needed for future development.
COA upholds murder conviction after rejecting involuntary manslaughter appeal
The Indiana Court of Appeals has upheld a man’s murder conviction after rejecting his claim that the jury should have been instructed on an involuntary manslaughter charge because he did not intend to kill his victim when he was beating her.
Mother fails to prove entitlement to coverage after untimely payment
The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed summary judgment in favor of a Hendricks County woman’s insurer on her suit alleging breach of contract after the insurance company declined to cover her son’s auto accident, which occurred after she let her coverage lapse for nonpayment.
US grand jury indicts Indiana teenager on terrorism charge
A suburban Indianapolis teenager accused of trying to travel overseas to join the Islamic State militant group has been formally indicted.
Bail reforms encourage risk assessments in pretrial release decisions
As part of an effort to reform the state’s bail system and reduce recidivism rates, the Indiana Supreme Court has adopted a new criminal rule to encourage the prompt release of arrestees who do not pose a significant threat to public safety.
COA affirms woman in same-sex relationship legal parent of child
The Indiana Court of Appeals on Monday affirmed a trial court’s conclusion that a lesbian couple who entered into a registered domestic partnership in California should be treated like married spouses. As such, the judges affirmed the award of joint legal custody and parenting time to the non-biological parent after the couple broke up.
Pilot evaluating people for pretrial release nears start
Some Indiana trial courts plan to utilize a risk assessment tool to identify who can be discharged without posting bail.
Murder conviction stands despite closing argument error
A deputy prosecutor’s misstep during closing arguments was not enough to overcome the abundant evidence of guilt and force a new trial, the Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled.
13 Indiana counties to join Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative
Thirteen counties will join Indiana’s Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative this year, which will include 32 counties after the expansion is complete.
Pretrial release project to test assessment tool
The Indiana Supreme Court is preparing to test the viability of allowing certain offenders to be released pretrial without having to pay a bail.
Lawsuit: School squelched workers’ rights over online posts
A federal lawsuit has been filed on behalf of two Indiana school cafeteria workers who were disciplined after posting concerns about school spending on social media.