2 men charged with murder in killing of pastor’s wife
Two men were charged Monday with murder in the fatal shooting of a pastor's pregnant wife during an apparent break in of their Indianapolis home, court records show.
Robbery
Articles
Convictions based on ‘very same behavior’ do not violate double jeopardy
A man was unable to overcome heavy precedent and convince the Indiana Supreme Court his convictions violated the state prohibition against double jeopardy.
COA affirms conviction, sentence in pizza deliveryman’s slaying
The Indiana Court of Appeals Thursday upheld the 65-year sentence and convictions a jury rendered against an Indianapolis man who robbed, shot and killed a pizza deliveryman at a southside apartment complex.
7th Circuit denies new trial for convicted bank robber
A man convicted of robbing the Hammond Standard Bank & Trust in December 2011 failed to convince the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals that he was entitled to a new trial.
Judge’s failure to address killers’ upbringings requires resentencing
Two men sentenced to life in prison for the 2000 murder of a 73-year-old nearly deaf Hammond gun store owner must be resentenced, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday.
7th Circuit rejects claim conviction is outside statute of limitations
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals disagreed with a defendant who claimed the federal DNA tolling statute is unconstitutional as applied to him. The man was convicted in 2013 of attempting to rob an Anderson bank in 2003, thanks to a positive identification in 2010 using DNA collected at the crime scene.
State failed to show defendant conspired to rob gas station
The Indiana Court of Appeals reversed a man’s conviction of conspiracy to commit robbery while armed with a deadly weapon because the state did not present evidence that the defendant and another man conspired ahead of time to rob a Lawrenceburg gas station.
State proved man forced his way into apartment, COA holds
A man convicted of three crimes stemming from the robbery of an apartment could not convince the Indiana Court of Appeals that he did not force his way into the apartment because someone inside opened the door first.
Judicial estoppel does not apply to juvenile delinquency proceedings, COA rules
A teen who argued that the rationale for applying judicial estoppel against the state in criminal proceedings should not apply in juvenile delinquency proceedings lost his appeal Monday before the Indiana Court of Appeals.
Justices affirm LWOP sentence, admission of suicide note
A southern Indiana man challenging his robbery and murder convictions and sentence to spend the rest of his life in prison lost his appeal before the Indiana Supreme Court Thursday. The justices rejected the man’s claim that his sentence should be reduced to a term of years.
Court reverses convictions from robbery due to double jeopardy concerns
Three of a man’s eight convictions stemming from his robbery of acquaintances were reversed or reduced because the convictions or elevated classes were based on the same elements of the crime, the Indiana Court of Appeals held Wednesday.
7th Circuit affirms Outlaws members’ convictions, remands over suspicionless search condition
Three members of the Indianapolis Chapter of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club lost their appeals before the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals Tuesday, however, the judges did decide that one man’s probation condition needs further consideration.
SCOTUS says lawyer’s brief absence doesn’t merit retrial
The Supreme Court of the United States says a Michigan man convicted of murder and armed robbery does not deserve a new trial even though his lawyer was absent for 10 minutes during the original trial.
Teen’s adjudications overturned based on unlawful search
An Indianapolis teenager suspected in two burglaries was subject to an unlawful pat down and search by an officer, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled. As such, the gun found on him should not have been admissible at his delinquency hearing.
Elkhart teens try to convince justices to revisit felony murder statute
An Indiana statute and a 16-year-old Indiana Supreme Court decision interpreting that statute are under review as three teenagers serving 45-year sentences asked the justices to overturn their convictions for felony murder.
Ex-con tells judge he robbed bank to get sent back to prison
An ex-convict who robbed a bank hoping he'd be sent back to prison told an Indiana judge he wanted to plead guilty only if he received the maximum 8-year sentence.
Enhancement affirmed after man exaggerated mental deficits to delay trial
Although a defendant has a mental disorder, he tried to exaggerate his mental deficits in order to delay or prevent a criminal trial on a bank robbery charge. The federal court saw through his act and enhanced his sentence for obstruction of justice, which the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed Friday in a case of first impression.
Defendant waived right to confront victim by not attending Skype deposition
A man’s rights under the Indiana Constitution were not violated when the state admitted his victim’s deposition acquired through Skype because the man chose not to be present during the deposition, ruled the Indiana Court of Appeals.
COA upholds intimidation conviction of man participating in fake robbery
A staged robbery between two friends to cover up stolen funds from an employer took an unexpected turn when a good Samaritan tried to catch the supposed robber. The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the defendant’s intimidation conviction for pulling a knife on the good Samaritan during a chase.
7th Circuit affirms carjacking enhancement stemming from bank robbery
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals quickly dismissed a defendant’s argument that his sentence for bank robbery should not include a two-level sentence enhancement for carjacking because the keys to the car were obtained by rummaging through the victim’s purse and not through force or intimidation.