Child Abuse - The Indiana Lawyer

Web Exclusive: Sex abuse survivor trains lawyers, others to avoid revictimizing

November 13, 2018 | Katie Stancombe

After overcoming addiction, abuse and sexual harm, Sarah Hurley sought to aid women dealing with the same struggles she faced as a child. She created the White Stone Project, an organization devoted to providing survivor-led, professional training and coaching to people and organizations engaging trauma survivors. Its goal: to equip people to more effectively communicate, understand and avoid revictimizing those they work with.

Ice Miller attorney faces discipline in Park Tudor sex abuse case

November 7, 2018

A prominent Indianapolis employment attorney is facing a disciplinary complaint for his involvement in the botched investigation of a former Park Tudor basketball coach who later was convicted of coercing a student into exchanging sexually explicit images and texts. Ice Miller LLP partner Michael Blickman, 65, is accused of possessing and copying child pornography, failing to immediately report child abuse and other ethical rule violations.

Indiana reports fewer child abuse, neglect deaths in FY 2016

September 19, 2018

The Indiana Department of Child Services reported child neglect and abuse fatalities fell by nearly a quarter to 59 during its 2016 fiscal year.

Indy archdiocese to follow Gary, list of priests accused of abuse

August 30, 2018

The Indianapolis Catholic archbishop plans to publicly release the names of all the priests in his diocese who’ve faced substantiated allegations of child sexual abuse. The archdiocese of Gary on Tuesday released a list of 10 ex-priests deemed guilty of sexually abusing children.

Default custody judgment against Florida mom reversed

August 22, 2018

A Florida mother can continue with an Indiana custody dispute with the father of her teenage daughter after the Indiana Court of Appeals reversed a default judgment against her. Chief Judge Nancy Vaidik used the opinion to caution trial courts against issuing default judgments in custody cases where a parent shows good cause for a continuance.

DCS report confirms parent drug use surging child welfare cases

June 25, 2018

A review of Indiana’s troubled child welfare agency confirms what advocates have long said: Parental drug abuse has led to a surge in children removed from their homes.

Father sues DCS over son’s death in Morgan County

June 1, 2018

A father is accusing the Indiana Department of Child Services of being complicit in the death of his 5-year-old son, who died in the care of his mother and her boyfriend. A lawsuit in Morgan Superior Court contends the agency received at least 11 reports of suspected abuse before the 2016 death of Brayson Price.

Mooresville man convicted of neglect, conspiracy in 5-year-old boy’s death

May 30, 2018

A Mooresville man has been convicted of neglect and conspiracy to commit murder in the death of his girlfriend's 5-year-old son who had special needs. A jury in Morgan County returned the verdict early Wednesday in the case against Steven Ingalls Jr.

Evansville man sentenced to 15 years in death of infant son

May 11, 2018

An Evansville man has been sentenced to 15 years after authorities say he dropped his infant son, who died a few days later.

No charges in Indiana day care attack that hurt 1-year-old

May 10, 2018

A prosecutor won’t file charges in an attack at an Indianapolis day care that left a 1-year-old boy’s lips and face scratched and swollen.

Justices rule anti-SLAPP law no defense to malpractice claim

May 10, 2018

A medical malpractice suit filed against a doctor who reported his suspicions of child abuse to the Department of Child Services will proceed after the Indiana Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the state’s anti-SLAPP laws do not apply to this case.

COA reverses CHINS petitions after untimely factfinding hearing

April 17, 2018

The Tipton Circuit Court must dismiss children in need of services petitions filed for two local children after it failed to hold a related factfinding hearing within the statutory time limit, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday.

COA upholds man’s convictions for molesting teenage relative

March 26, 2018

A northern Indiana man convicted of molesting a teenage relative has lost his appeal of his two felony convictions after the Indiana Court of Appeals found neither the trial court nor the man’s trial counsel erred.

Jeffersonville man accused of molesting 19 kids faces sixth suit

March 23, 2018

A Jeffersonville man charged with molesting 19 children faces a sixth civil lawsuit stemming from that alleged abuse. The lawsuit filed March 12 on behalf of one of Michael Begin Jr.’s alleged victims names the 18-year-old Jeffersonville man, the Greater Clark School Corporation and YMCA of Southern Indiana Inc. as defendants.

DCS, CHINS bills continue to sail through Statehouse

February 21, 2018

A slew of bills aimed at helping youngsters designated as children in need of services and another targeting overdue child support payments cleared legislative committees Wednesday with no opposing votes.

Child pornography arrest the latest sign in growing trend

February 21, 2018

A Scott County man’s arrest on child pornography charges by the Indiana State Police is the latest sign of a growing trend reported by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Kentucky lawyer last of gymnastics doctor’s victims to testify

January 24, 2018

One of the first athletes to accuse Larry Nassar of sexual assault confronted him Wednesday in a Lansing, Michigan, courtroom where the former sports doctor was due to be sentenced for years of molesting Olympic gymnasts and other young women.

RFRA’s unintended consequences

January 9, 2018

Indiana Senate Bill 101, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, was signed by then-Gov. Mike Pence on March 26, 2015. An amendment was then signed the following month. Since, RFRA has been cited in a few unexpected ways.

Problems persist as director quits DCS

January 9, 2018

The departure of Mary Beth Bonaventura as director of the Indiana Department of Child Services surprised several family law attorneys and social service providers. Uniformly, they agreed the former Lake County juvenile judge was a strong advocate for children and brought valuable experience to her tenure. Still, the department has struggled against internal and external challenges.

Babysitter’s serious neglect convictions, sentence affirmed

December 27, 2017

A babysitter convicted of inflicting a life-threatening head injury on an infant in her care lost her appeal of her felony convictions and sentence after the Indiana Court of Appeals determined neither court error nor insufficient evidence warranted reversal.

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