High court limits seizure of assets from drug conspiracies
The Supreme Court of the United States is limiting the government's ability to seize assets from people who are convicted of drug crimes but receive little of the illegal proceeds.
Drugs
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Prosecutors hail new DNA, anti-drug laws
Indiana prosecutors joined Gov. Eric Holcomb Thursday as he signed two bills prosecutors said are essential to law enforcement’s ability to build criminal cases.
Indictment: 35 trafficked cigarettes, synthetic drugs
Federal prosecutors in St. Louis say three dozen people from Indiana and five other states have been indicted on felony charges related to money laundering and the trafficking of cigarettes and synthetic drugs.
High court to decide if kids ‘reasonably expected’ to play at park with no equipment
The effect of a change to Indiana’s criminal code limiting the enhancement for committing a drug offense near a school or park will be at the center of a case the Indiana Supreme Court will hear next month.
COA affirms convictions in nursing home burglary scheme
The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed a man’s various felony theft and burglary convictions after finding there was sufficient evidence to prove he broke into the dwelling of nursing home residents and stole narcotics worth more than $3,000.
COA reverses forfeiture against drug offender
The state must return funds seized from a man convicted of possession of marijuana after the Indiana Court of Appeals found no proof linking the cash to any drug crimes.
‘Richard rule’ questioned during oral arguments in 4th Amendment case
The Indiana Supreme Court is being asked to determine whether a ruling by the Indiana Court of Appeals that allows police to search a passenger in a car after a police dog alerts to drugs being in the vehicle goes too far.
Jury acquits Indianapolis doctor charged in patients’ deaths
A former Indianapolis doctor has been found not guilty of all charges in the deaths of three people whom prosecutors said overdosed on painkillers that he prescribed.
Indiana prisons ban inmates from receiving greeting cards
A recent trend of lacing mail with drugs has led to a ban on greeting cards in Indiana prisons.
Attorney’s license reinstated decade after meth addiction
When Evansville attorney Teresa Perry McKeethen passed the Indiana Bar Exam and began practicing law in 2000, she thought she was launching herself on the road to a successful legal career.
No constitutional violations at man’s drug trial, COA rules
A Warrick County man who claimed multiple constitutional violations prejudiced him at his trial for drug crimes failed to prove those violations, the Indiana Court of Appeals decided Thursday.
COA affirms drug conviction, sentence
The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed a southern Indiana man’s drug conviction and sentence after finding that the admission of certain evidence did not violate the man’s constitutional rights.
Sales of Polar Pure brings forfeiture dispute to US Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the United States will enter the debate over civil forfeiture Wednesday when the eight justices consider whether the government can seize property from a convicted co-conspirator who did not receive any of the profits from the criminal transactions.
COA rules park with no playground cannot enhance drug conviction
A split Indiana Court of Appeals, divided over whether a park with no trees, no playground equipment and no benches could attract children during a school day, reversed a man’s conviction for Level 4 felony dealing in methamphetamine.
Supreme Court: Man allowed to view video of controlled drug buy with informant
A Vigo County man facing drug charges will now be able to review a video of a controlled drug buy between himself and an informant after the Indiana Supreme Court decided Friday that the disclosure of the video would be relevant and helpful to his case.
City sues drugmaker for letting OxyContin flood black market
As deaths from painkillers and heroin abuse spiked and street crimes increased, the mayor of Everett, Washington, took major steps to tackle the opioid epidemic devastating this working-class city north of Seattle. He sued the maker of OxyContin.
COA affirms denial of motion to suppress traffic stop evidence
A Lawrence County woman cannot appeal the trial court’s denial of her motion to suppress drug evidence obtained during a traffic stop because the officers who stopped her had a reasonable suspicion to do so.
Defendant’s testimony makes admission error harmless
Although unauthenticated videos and photos showing a defendant appearing to make methamphetamine should not have been admitted at trial under the silent-witness theory, the Indiana Court of Appeals found the error was harmless because of the defendant’s own testimony.
COA reverses drug convictions for lack of police inventory regulation
The Indiana Court of Appeals vacated a Putnam County man’s drug conviction Tuesday after finding that police officers were not following proper protocol when they searched the man’s vehicle.
Treatment center to offer substance-abuse education geared for lawyers
Recent studies showing disproportional rates of substance abuse among attorneys prompted Fairbanks Treatment Center to announce Thursday the advent of educational programs for people in the legal profession who may be at risk of alcoholism or drug addiction.