Rush County fireman, special deputy charged with child sex crimes
A Rush County law enforcement official who works with the sheriff’s department and Rushville Fire Department has been charged with sex crimes against children.
Child Abuse
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Danville man convicted in death of girlfriend’s 4-year-old
A Danville man has been convicted of murder in the November 2017 death of his girlfriend’s 4-year-old son.
DCS seeks to keep records sealed in class-action care suit
Lawyers for Indiana’s Department of Child Services are pushing to seal records in a federal class action lawsuit accusing the child welfare agency of inadequately protecting thousands of children in its care.
Woman charged with strangling stepdaughter waives counsel
A Marion woman charged in the strangulation death of her 10-year-old stepdaughter has waived her right to an attorney and says she will represent herself in court.
Fort Wayne man wants to withdraw plea in toddler’s death
A northeastern Indiana man wants to withdraw his guilty plea to neglect in the death of his girlfriend’s 2-year-old daughter. Shane Patton of Fort Wayne appeared in court Tuesday and was ordered held until Aug. 13, when a hearing is scheduled for him on bond and to assign a new public defender.
Report: Indiana deaths up from child abuse, neglect
The Indiana Department of Child Services says child neglect and abuse deaths increased during fiscal year 2017. A report released Friday details 65 deaths that resulted directly from abuse or neglect.
‘I do not understand’: David, Rush publish sharp dissent to CHINS transfer denial
In a published dissent to a denial of transfer, two Indiana Supreme Court judges had sharp words for the Department of Child Services and the lower courts that, according to the dissent, did not take advantage of an opportunity to “make things right” for a father and his two children.
Facing calls for resignation, Acosta defends Epstein deal
Insisting he got the best deal he could at the time, Labor Secretary Alex Acosta on Wednesday defended his handling of a sex-trafficking case involving now-jailed financier Jeffrey Epstein as he tried to stave off intensifying Democratic calls for his resignation.
Ex-prep diving coach gets 4 years for sex with teens
A former assistant diving coach at a northwest Indiana high school has been sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to having sex with two 15-year-old female students and keeping partially nude photographs of each girl on his cellphone.
Billionaire financier Epstein due in court over sex charges
Wealthy financier and registered sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is due in court after his arrest in New York on new underage sex-trafficking charges involving allegations that date to the early 2000s, according to law enforcement officials.
2 face murder charges in 2018 death of Elwood boy
The mother and stepfather of an Elwood child who died three days before his second birthday now are facing murder charges.
IPS pays $600K to settle counselor sex abuse lawsuits
Indianapolis Public Schools paid almost $600,000 to settle three lawsuits in a case involving a former school counselor who was accused of having sex with students.
Lawyer discipline hearing in Park Tudor case could be closed
The attorney facing professional ethics charges over his handling of sexual misconduct accusations against a now-imprisoned former Park Tudor basketball coach will be permitted to provide some evidence under seal, and at least portions of his attorney discipline hearing may be closed to the public.
Justices: ‘Reliable assurance’ of accident defense upholds conviction in baby’s death
A man’s convictions of neglect of his infant daughter resulting in death was affirmed Wednesday by the Indiana Supreme Court when justices ruled it was not improper under Indiana Evidence Rule 404(b) to admit other-bad-acts evidence to show lack of accident, so long as a there was reliable assurance that an accident defense would be raised.
Senate OKs bill banning release of details in child deaths
The Indiana Senate has unanimously approved a bill that would ban the release of details in child neglect or abuse deaths to safeguard criminal cases.
Lawsuits by 3 men allege sex abuse by former Indiana priest
Three men are suing the Catholic Diocese of Lafayette, alleging that a priest molested them as children and that the diocese covered up the abuse.
Indiana pediatrician accused of sexually abusing 3 boys
A Boone County pediatrician is facing charges alleging he sexually abused three boys.
Suit: Kids in CHINS cases need attorneys
A nonprofit that gave Indiana an F grade in how the state provides for minors in child in need of services and termination of parental rights hearings asserts in a new lawsuit that children a have right to counsel so their voices be heard in court.
Bill sought by child sex abuse survivors rerouted for study
Individuals who were sexually abused as children will have to keep waiting for justice, now that a bill that could potentially give them more time to sue their abusers has been routed for further study.
Former Carmel swim coach sentenced for sexual exploitation
A former Carmel swim coach has been sentenced to 16 years and eight months in federal prison for sexually exploiting one of the girls he coached.