COA upholds 75-year sentence in kidnapping, confinement
A man who stalked and kidnapped two women at gunpoint and led police on a vehicle chase couldn’t persuade the Indiana Court of Appeals to reduce his aggregate 75-year sentence.
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Marion County halts simple marijuana possession prosecutions
Simple possession of marijuana will no longer be prosecuted in Indianapolis courts, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office has announced. Acting Prosecutor Ryan Mears said Monday the office will no longer file charges against defendants accused of possessing less than 1 ounce, or roughly 30 grams, of marijuana.
Summit to address pretrial release practices as bail reform looms
Representatives from all 92 Indiana counties will gather in Indianapolis next week for a team-based training event on pretrial release practices in criminal cases.
COA: Gun, drug evidence from home detention search admissible
A man convicted of illegally possessing a gun in the residence of a home detainee lost an argument that evidence discovered during a search of the home should be suppressed.
Man guilty of murder in shooting death of 1-year-old
A judge has convicted an Indianapolis man in the fatal shooting of a 1-year-old girl and the wounding of her 19-year-old aunt.
COA affirms sex offender’s sentence
An Indiana Court of Appeals panel has affirmed a sex offender’s seven-year sentence despite his assertions that the sentence was inappropriate, despite a finding that a trial court improperly used the offender’s risk assessment scores as an aggravating factor.
Inmate fatally stabbed by fellow inmate at Indiana jail
Police say an inmate at Pendleton Correctional Facility has been fatally stabbed by another inmate.
Habitual offender enhancement in plea not involuntary, COA holds
The denial of a prisoner’s petition for post-conviction relief has been upheld after the Indiana Court of Appeals concluded the man’s guilty plea that included a habitual criminal offender enhancement was not involuntary.
COA hears appeal of murder charge in opioid injection death
Arguments as to whether a man may be charged with murder after he injecting his wife with a fatal dose of fentanyl that they both believed was heroin were presented to an appellate panel during oral arguments Wednesday.
Man convicted in Evansville bingo hall shooting
A southwestern Indiana man has been convicted of attempted murder and other charges after a January shooting inside a crowded Veterans of Foreign Wars post that wounded one person.
Gun found in vehicle inventory erroneously admitted, COA rules
A man’s conviction for driving on a suspended license will stand, but the Indiana Court of Appeals vacated his conviction for carrying a handgun without a license on finding a search of his vehicle was not pursuant to departmental routine or regulation.
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.
Justice Department will execute inmates for first time since 2003
The Justice Department said Thursday that it will carry out executions of federal death row inmates for the first time since 2003.
COA hears free speech Facebook post case involving police threats
Arguments concerning a mother’s free speech rights on Facebook after she was convicted for harassing a police officer opened discussion about the uncharted waters of social media in court before an Indiana appeals court Wednesday.
Senate advances CBD legalization bill
Hoosiers are one step closer to having unrestricted access to cannabidiol, or CBD, oil after the Indiana Senate passed a bill that would allow CBD use by all Indiana residents, not just those with certain illnesses.
Bill would limit sex offenders’ access to churches on school property
Serious sex offenders who attend church on a property that also houses an educational institution would be restricted in the amount of time they can spend at that church through a bill that passed an Indiana Senate committee Tuesday.
Senate panel to take up hate crimes bill — again
An Indiana Senate committee will take up a bill targeting hate crimes — again.
Senate committee passes billing legalizing sale of CBD oil
A bill that would allow Hoosiers to purchase a marijuana-derived product over-the-counter from any retailer is headed to the full Senate floor.
Criminal Code bill gets Senate hearing
Concerns over sentencing provisions and pleas for adequate funding dominated the Senate hearing on legislation overhauling the state’s criminal code.
Indiana Senate to hold hearings on crime bills
Two crime bills moving through the Indiana General Assembly are on the agenda for Senate hearings next week.