Justices set to hear several oral arguments next week
Indiana Supreme Court justices will hear oral arguments next week in several cases including a slip-and-fall dispute, a mayor’s misuse use of bond funds, and a home detainee’s escape.
Official misconduct
Articles
Judge changes course, opts to keep ex-mayor’s bribery case
A federal judge who last week recused herself from the bribery case of a former northwestern Indiana mayor has changed course and will preside over the man’s retrial after all.
COA orders acquittal of Long Beach man convicted of of fatally shooting wife
The Indiana Court of Appeals on Monday ordered the acquittal of John Larkin, convicted of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the 2012 shooting death of his wife. In overturning the verdict, the appellate panel concluded the LaPorte Superior Court erred in instructing Larkin’s jury. The years-long case was marked by police and prosecutorial misconduct.
Ex-cop who shot Black man reaches plea on unrelated charge
A white former South Bend police officer whose fatal shooting of a Black man last year roiled then-Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s presidential campaign has agreed to plead guilty to a felony charge stemming from an alleged on-duty sexual encounter he had a month before that shooting.
Ex-Lake County Sheriff Buncich resentenced for bribery, fraud
A former northwestern Indiana sheriff has been resentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison for accepting bribes from towing businesses. The sentence is about three years less than long-serving former Lake County Sheriff John Buncich received after he was convicted in a 2017 public corruption case.
AG Hill terminated as defendant in groping accusers’ federal lawsuit
Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill has won a victory in the continued fallout of the sexual misconduct allegations against him, successfully moving a federal judge to dismiss him as a defendant in a civil lawsuit brought against him and the Indiana Legislature. Also, the state lawmaker who helped initiate the complaint has been dismissed as a plaintiff.
Ex-Paoli police officer pleads guilty to keeping meth, evidence
A former southern Indiana police officer has pleaded guilty to keeping methamphetamine and other police evidence that was supposed to have been placed in the department’s evidence room.
Indianapolis chief: No bodycam video of 2 police shootings
Indianapolis’ police chief said Thursday that none of the officers involved in the fatal police shootings of two men killed hours apart in separate incidents were equipped with body cameras. Events surrounding the first shooting were livestreamed on Facebook, leading to protests.
Adams Co. judge receives public reprimand for judicial misconduct
The judge of the Adams County Drug Court has received a public reprimand from the Indiana Supreme Court after being found in violation of four judicial ethics rules related to his dispute with other county officials on behalf of his drug court coordinator.
Former Georgetown police chief faces misconduct charge
A former southern Indiana police chief has been charged with official misconduct for diverting thousands of dollars in auto tow-in fees that were not deposited with his town’s clerk-treasurer, state police said Thursday. Misdemeanor charges of conversion and failure to deposit public funds also were filed Thursday against former Georgetown Police Chief Dennis Kunkel, police said.
Justices remand for reconsideration in Munster misuse of public funds case
A unanimous Indiana Supreme Court has remanded a case, reinstating state claims against two former Munster school officials accused of misappropriation of funds. The court cited its recent decision concerning a case involving a Jennings County bookkeeper.
Bill that outlined requirement for ousting AG dies in last night of session
Despite a push from Indiana House lawmakers to clarify in state code whether Attorney General Curtis Hill could remain in office if his law license is suspended, state legislators failed to pass a bill before adjourning this year’s session Wednesday night.
Conviction upheld for ex-Gary city employee who ordered, sold iPads
A former employee of the City of Gary who purchased more than $1.3 million in computer equipment and resold it for cash lost an appeal of her conviction and sentence before the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday.
Howard County sheriff fires six jail officers for misconduct
Six jail officers in Kokomo have been fired for misconduct dating back to early December, officials said.
Southern Indiana jail officer charged with sexually assaulting woman
A southwestern Indiana correctional officer has been arrested after a female inmate he was transporting accused him of assaulting her. Malyk Jawaun Johnson, 23, of Montgomery was charged Wednesday with sexual battery, official misconduct and trafficking with an inmate, Indiana State Police said.
Suspension recommendation casts further uncertainty on AG Hill’s future
The hearing officer presiding over the attorney discipline case against Attorney General Curtis Hill is recommending a 60-day suspension of Hill’s law license, without automatic reinstatement. But how that recommendation might affect Hill’s status as AG or his re-election campaign remains to be seen.
Selby: AG Hill should get 60-day suspension, no automatic reinstatement
The hearing officer presiding over Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill’s discipline case has recommended that the state’s highest-ranking attorney serve a two-month suspension without automatic reinstatement for violations of two professional conduct rules related to sexual misconduct allegations against him.
Seymour police officers charged with ghost employment
A former southern Indiana police chief and one of his top officers face ghost employment and other charges for allegedly working other jobs while they were on duty, Indiana State Police said Wednesday.
Northwest Indiana official charged with domestic battery
An elected northwest Indiana official has been arrested on six domestic battery charges alleging he battered his pregnant girlfriend several times dating back to last June.
Hamilton County chief deputy treasurer files suit against former coworker, political foe
Hamilton County chief deputy treasurer Kim Good is pursuing defamation charges against a former co-worker who claimed Good engaged in nepotism and fired her to cover it up.