Knox Co. coroner faces official misconduct, drug charges
A southwestern Indiana coroner is facing official misconduct and drug charges following a nearly yearlong investigation, state police said Thursday.
Drugs
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With overdoses up, states look at harsher fentanyl penalties
State lawmakers nationwide are responding to the deadliest overdose crisis in U.S. history by pushing harsher penalties for possessing fentanyl and other powerful lab-made opioids that are connected to about 70,000 deaths a year.
COA finds no error in dealing controlled substance conviction
The Court of Appeals of Indiana has affirmed a man’s conviction for dealing in a controlled substance resulting in death after finding the trial court didn’t err.
COA: Dog sniff, car search did not violate woman’s constitutional rights, suppression not required
A Shelbyville police officer did not violate a woman’s federal or state constitutional rights in a traffic stop that led to her being charged with dealing in methamphetamine, the Court of Appeals of Indiana has ruled.
Evansville man sentenced in drug case tied to Indiana motorcycle club
A 37-year-old southern Indiana man has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison for his role in what authorities say was a large-scale conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Biden’s fentanyl position sparks criticism from 2 sides
President Joe Biden’s calls in his State of the Union speech for strong criminal penalties in response to soaring deaths linked to the potent opioid fentanyl are being rebuked by harm reduction advocates who say that approach could make the problem worse.
COA upholds drug dealer’s convictions, remands for illegal sentence
An Indianapolis man will not shake his drug convictions after the Court of Appeals of Indiana found police didn’t illegally search a hotel room he was living in. In fact, he will spend more in prison after judges concluded the sentence he was given didn’t fall within the sentencing guidelines.
COA: Deputies had reasonable suspicion for pat-down
A northeastern Indiana man has failed to convince the Court of Appeals of Indiana that deputies violated his Fourth Amendment rights when they patted him down and arrested him after an anonymous noise complaint was called in against him.
7th Circuit affirms convictions in wide-ranging drug conspiracy, splits over resentencing
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed convictions and sentences in a wide-ranging challenge to a drug conspiracy case, affirming against the 10 defendants in all instances except one sentencing challenge. That one reversal prompted a dissent.
COA: THC vape cartridges evidence enough to enhance hash oil conviction
A man who transported 2,500 THC vape cartridges across state lines will not have his dealing conviction overturned after the Court of Appeals of Indiana rejected his appellate arguments.
Indiana to receive $219M from CVS, Walgreens in opioid settlements
CVS and Walgreens have agreed to pay state and local governments a combined total of more than $10 billion to settle lawsuits over the toll of opioids and now want to know by Dec. 31 whether states are accepting the deals.
Evansville mom gets 25-year prison term; daughter died from fentanyl
An Evansville woman was sentenced Friday to 25 years in prison for the death of her 3-year-old daughter who ingested fentanyl.
COA: Dog sniff outside hotel room did not violate Indiana Constitution
Although precedent holds that law enforcement needs “reasonable suspicion” to conduct dog sniffs at the front door of private residences, the Court of Appeals of Indiana has found that a dog sniff in a hotel walkway did not violate the Indiana Constitution.
7th Circuit: Terry search warranted during traffic stop
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has concluded that members of the Brownsburg Police Department didn’t violate an Indiana man’s rights when they frisked him during a traffic stop.
COA: Mistake of fact not enough to overturn seizure of drugs
Even though the driver was pulled over on a private roadway, the drugs seized as a result will still be admitted as evidence after the Court of Appeals of Indiana found the traffic stop was a mistake of fact and not a mistake of law.
Walmart offers to pay $3.1 billion to settle opioid lawsuits
Walmart proposed a $3.1 billion legal settlement Tuesday over the toll of powerful prescription opioids sold at its pharmacies.
7th Circuit vacates 10-year sentence after district court wrongly dismisses evidence of drug purity
A split 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has vacated a 10-year prison sentence for a drug dealer after finding a district court failed to address “some evidence” suggesting inaccurate drug testing.
Voters in 5 states deciding whether to legalize marijuana
Voters in five states are deciding on Election Day whether to approve recreational marijuana, a move that could signal a major shift toward legalization in even the most conservative parts of the country.
Which states put marijuana on the ballot in 2022?
Recreational marijuana could be legal in half the country if the handful of states with cannabis measures on ballots this November pass them.
Russian court rejects Griner appeal against 9-year sentence
A Russian court on Tuesday upheld the nine-year prison sentence handed to American basketball star Brittney Griner for drug possession, rejecting her appeal.