Animal cruelty penalties measure heads to Holcomb’s desk
People convicted of animal cruelty could face higher penalties under a bill that’s headed to Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb’s desk.
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Public was not barred from man’s trial, COA rules
A man who argued the public was barred from his trial was denied an appeal of his drug-related convictions Thursday after an appellate panel confirmed that his Sixth Amendment right to a public trial was not violated.
Despite snoozing juror, meth, theft convictions affirmed
Convictions for a man who attempted to make meth were upheld by an Indiana Court of Appeals panel Wednesday after it concluded no abuse of discretion occurred when a sleeping juror in his case was replaced, and that his argument for a new trial was waived.
Lawmakers back felony charge if fertility doctors misuse sperm
A woman who was among numerous patients unknowingly impregnated by their Indiana fertility doctor’s own sperm said she’s pleased with state lawmakers backing a proposal that would make such actions a felony.
Person shot, wounded by SWAT team serving warrant
Authorities say a person has been shot and wounded after firing a gun at a SWAT team that was trying to serve a felony warrant in west central Indiana.
Unauthenticated cell records lead to reversal of robbery-related conviction
The state must now decide whether to retry a woman previously convicted of aiding a robbery after the Indiana Court of Appeals reversed her conviction, finding the state failed to properly authenticate cellphone records it said tied the woman to the crime.
Vanderburgh County man gets 150 years for killing wife, shooting daughters
A southwestern Indiana man convicted of killing his wife and shooting his adult twin daughters has been sentenced to 150 years in prison. Clinton Loehrlein learned his sentence Monday after a Vanderburgh County jury last year found the Darmstadt man guilty of murder in the January 2017 slaying of 52-year-old Sherry Loehrlein, two counts of attempted murder, two counts of aggravated battery and misdemeanor resisting law enforcement.
Fertility fraud bill creating felony moves to House
Indiana doctors could face felony deception charges under legislation that follows the case in which a fertility doctor used his own sperm to impregnate perhaps dozens of women.
Bond set for man charged with shooting 5 outside bar
A judge has set bond at $500,000 for a 32-year-old man charged with shooting five people outside an Evansville bar.
Indiana Senate backs tougher law on passing stopped buses
Indiana drivers could face tougher penalties for passing stopped school buses under a bill advancing in the Legislature.
Portage mayor convicted of bribery, tax charge
A jury has convicted a northwestern Indiana mayor of one count each of bribery and tax obstruction while acquitting him of a second bribery count. The jury returned the verdicts Thursday against 38-year-old Portage Mayor James Snyder.
Dad who beat son, 6, loses parental privilege defense appeal
An Allen County father who repeatedly struck his 6-year-old son in the face causing serious bruising after he accused the child of stealing his cigarettes had no viable claim of parental privilege shielding him from battery convictions.
Madison County man’s child molesting, solicitation convictions upheld
An Alexandria man who unsuccessfully moved for a mistrial and challenged evidence the state produced to convict him of child molesting failed to convince the Indiana Court of Appeals that the trial court had erred or that his 12-year executed sentence was inappropriate.
Suspended special needs trust lawyer faces more theft accusations
A suspended Greenwood lawyer criminally charged with stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from his former special needs trust clients around Indiana has been accused in new civil lawsuits of draining another $108,600 from several more trust funds. The additional alleged misappropriations by Kenneth Shane Service drive the alleged missing funds to more than $318,600.
COA: Evidence not inadmissible hearsay in domestic battery
The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed a man’s domestic battery and strangulation convictions when it found his arguments failed to prove that admitted evidence was inadmissible hearsay.
COA: Stolen used tires of value; theft conviction affirmed
The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed a woman’s conviction for stealing used tires from an Avon auto dealership when it found the tires were of value because they presented a liability to the dealership if used without authorization.
Prosecutor: New charges possible in Russia probe leak case
New charges and arrests are possible in the prosecution of a U.S. Treasury Department employee accused of giving a journalist confidential banking reports related to special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe, a prosecutor said Wednesday. Treasury worker Natalie Edwards, 40, is awaiting trial on charges she gave a BuzzFeed journalist reports about wire transfers made by Paul Manafort and other suspects in Mueller’s investigation.
COA: No double jeopardy violations in fatal flight from police
A South Bend motorist who fled police, ran a red light and hit another vehicle, killing the driver, was unable to convince the Indiana Court of Appeals that his convictions violate double jeopardy.
Double habitual offender enhancements upheld
A man with a long history as a traffic violator lost his appeal to dismiss his habitual offender charge after the Indiana Court of Appeals found that current statute gives courts explicit authorization to use the habitual offender enhancement.
Man charged with neglect after Lebanon toddler fatally shoots sister
A northwestern Indiana man has been charged with felony neglect after police say a 3-year-old boy fatally shot his 4-year-old sister with the suspect’s gun in the family’s home.