Opinions June 28, 2022

Court of Appeals of Indiana
In re the Termination of the Parent-Child Relationship of R.O. and R.D. (Minor Children) and C.D. (Mother) and E.O. (Father) C.D. (Mother) and E.O. (Father) v. Indiana Department of Child Services (mem. dec.)
21A-JT-1608
Juvenile termination. Affirms the termination of C.D. and E.O.’s parental rights to their children, R.O. and R.D. Finds the Hancock Superior Court did not err in determining a reasonable probability exists that the conditions resulting in the children’s removal and continued placement outside the home will not be remedied. Finds no due process violations.

Trenton D. Fye v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
21A-CR-2074
Criminal. Affirms Trenton Fye’s murder conviction and a determination that he knowingly or intentionally used a firearm in the commission of the offense. Finds the Allen Superior Court did not commit fundamental error as to the character evidence or the leading question and did not abuse its discretion in denying Fye’s motions for continuance.

Cody Hitchcock v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
21A-CR-2663a
Criminal. Affirms Cody Hitchcock’s nine-year sentence for conviction of Level 3 felony aggravated battery.  Finds his sentence is not inappropriate in light of the nature of the offense and his character.

Anthony Keith Jones v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
22A-CR-249
Criminal. Reverses Anthony Jones’ conviction for Class A misdemeanor carrying a handgun without a license after he was found with a handgun in the parking lot of a shooting range. Finds that Indiana’s carrying statute does not require individuals to be licensed when carrying a handgun “at a shooting range,” which also applies to the shooting range’s parking lot.

W.R. Jr. v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
22A-JV-344
Juvenile. Affirms W.R.’s placement in the Indiana Department of Correction following a juvenile-delinquency adjudication. Finds W.R. poses a risk to the community and himself. Thus, concludes the Wells Circuit Court acted well within its discretion by placing W.R. in the DOC.

In the Termination of the Parent-Child Relationship of K.B. and Ju.B. (Minor Children), and K.S. (Mother) and B.C. (Father) v. Indiana Department of Child Services (mem. dec.)
22A-JT-348
Juvenile termination. Affirms the termination of K.S. and B.C.’s parental rights to their minor children, K.B. and Ju.B. Finds DCS properly filed its termination petition pursuant to Indiana Code section 31-35-2-4(b)(2)(A). Finds no abuse of the Vigo Circuit Court’s discretion in denying the mother’s continuance motion. Finds the conditions under which the children were removed from  the mother’s care would not be remedied and that termination of the mother’s parental rights was in the children’s best interests.