Man accused in 4 killings loses fight to avoid death penalty
A northeastern Indiana judge has rejected efforts by a man awaiting trial in four slayings to avoid a possible death penalty in the case.
Fort Wayne
Articles
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.
Huntington father sentenced to 25 years in death of infant
A man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison in the shaking death of his 2-month-old daughter in northeastern Indiana. Kevin N. Tucker was given his punishment Monday after pleading guilty in January to aggravated battery resulting in death.
Scotty’s Brewhouse founder faces new investor lawsuit for alleged fraud
Two large shareholders in the company behind local restaurant chain Scotty’s Brewhouse have filed a lawsuit against its founder, Scott M. Wise, alleging that he made false statements and failed to properly register their shares, causing the investors to lose more than $1 million.
Man’s 33-year sentence, admission of heroin evidence upheld
A man who allegedly held two women against their will and beat them in his Fort Wayne home and later was found holding heroin lost his appeal Friday. An appellate court rejected his challenge to the admission of evidence against him as well as his appeal of his aggregate 33½-year sentence.
Fort Wayne native joins Allen County bench as magistrate judge
Fort Wayne native Michael T. Douglass has been named a magistrate judge in the Allen Superior Court Civil Division, the courts announced in a statement. Douglass will join the court Jan. 22.
Union sues GM, says idled workers should replace temps
The United Auto Workers union is accusing General Motors of violating a national contract by using temporary workers at a plant in Fort Wayne instead of employing full-timers who were laid off from its factories elsewhere.
Indiana man gets 80 years in prison for Fort Wayne girl’s 1988 killing
An Indiana man has been sentenced to 80 years in prison for the 1988 abduction, rape and killing of an 8-year-old girl. An Allen County judge sentenced 59-year-old John D. Miller, of Grabill, on Friday after Miller pleaded guilty to murder and child molestation charges in April Tinsley’s long-unsolved killing.
‘Meager weight’ of mitigating factors could not overcome attorney’s deficient performance
Although the Indiana Court of Appeals agreed the relationship had broken between a Fort Wayne criminal defense attorney and his client, it did not find that the 130-year sentence handed down would have been significantly less if defense counsel had offered mitigating circumstances.
Scotty’s Brewhouse founder sued over Carmel restaurant deal
Scotty’s Brewhouse founder Scott M. Wise, along with Indianapolis-based Scotty’s Holdings LLC and two Arizona-based parties, are facing a lawsuit from a former business partner of Wise’s who claims he was defrauded out of his $300,000 investment in the restaurant chain.
Lawyer facing jail time for forgery, counterfeiting
A northern Indiana lawyer could be sentenced to nearly two years in jail after she pleaded guilty Tuesday to forging a judge’s name on a phony divorce decree and sending a bogus email bearing a deputy prosecutor’s name. Jill N. Holtzclaw of Decatur pleaded guilty to Level 6 felony counts of forgery and counterfeiting Tuesday in Adams Superior Court.
Indiana man pleads guilty to 1988 killing of 8-year-old girl
An Indiana man has pleaded guilty to the 1988 abduction, rape and killing of an 8-year-old Fort Wayne girl. John D. Miller pleaded guilty Friday to murder and child molestation charges in the long-unsolved killing of April Tinsley. A plea agreement calls for the 59-year-old Miller to serve 80 years in prison.
Murder charges filed in Thanksgiving attack that killed 3
Prosecutors have filed three murder counts and other charges against a man in connection with a drug-related robbery that left three men dead and two others wounded at a Fort Wayne home.
New judges named in Allen, Monroe counties
An Allen County magistrate judge has been selected to fill one of two upcoming vacancies in the Allen County courts, and the successor has been chosen for a longtime jurist in Monroe County.
Fort Wayne man accused in attack on mother now facing murder charge
A Fort Wayne Indiana man who police say told an officer he was possessed by demons and Adolf Hitler when he allegedly attacked his mother is facing a murder charge. Court records show the charge was added Tuesday against 34-year-old Jason Steiss, who last week was jailed on charges including aggravated battery.
Supreme Court accepts resignation, imposes suspension
The Indiana Supreme Court has accepted the resignation of a Hoosier attorney who faced multiple felony drunken-driving counts. Justices also ordered reciprocal discipline for another lawyer who was removed from the practice of law by the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
Man accused in attack on mother told police he was possessed
Police say a northeastern Indiana a man told an officer that he was possessed by demons and Adolf Hitler when he allegedly bit, hit, punched and choked his mother.
Hoosier among 4 convicted in dogfighting operation
Four men, including one from Fort Wayne, have been convicted in Trenton, New Jersey, for their roles in an illegal multistate dogfighting operation.
Councilman to replace outgoing Indiana Senate leader
An Allen County councilman has been selected to fill the seat of the outgoing Republican leader of the Indiana Senate, President Pro Tem David Long, also of Fort Wayne.
Indiana man charged in 1988 slaying wants trial moved
An Indiana man charged in the 1988 abduction, rape and killing of an 8-year-old girl wants his trial moved to another county. John D. Miller, who is charged with the murder and molestation of April Tinsley, filed a motion Thursday seeking a change of venue.