Articles

2 convicted in killings of 3 during drug-related robbery

Two young men have been convicted in connection with the 2017 drug-related robbery and fatal shootings of three men in an Indianapolis apartment. The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office announced Monday that Troy Ward was convicted of c three counts of murder and three counts of felony murder, while Martell Williams was convicted of charges including three counts of felony murder, among other convictions for both.

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7th Circuit: Woman can’t sue county over worker’s sex assault

A woman serving court-ordered community service who claimed she was sexually assaulted by a Vigo County park maintenance worker lost her appeal of a judgment in favor of the county in her civil liability lawsuit Wednesday, despite what judges noted was a “horrific incident”.

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Ex-Bunker Hill marshal pleads guilty to obstruction of justice

An ex-northern Indiana town marshal who authorities say provided false police credentials for an acquaintance so the person could be paid more while working as a security guard has pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice. Aaron Dague of Wabash entered the plea Thursday under a deal with prosecutors, was sentenced to one year of probation and can no longer work in law enforcement.

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Ex-West Virginia Supreme Court justice pleads guilty

A retired West Virginia Supreme Court justice is now a convicted felon. Menis Ketchum pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court to a felony count of fraud related to his personal use of a state vehicle and gas fuel card in a scandal that has led to upcoming impeachment trials for the remaining justices.

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Leaker of secret report on Russian hacking gets 5 years

Former government contractor Reality Winner, who pleaded guilty to mailing a classified U.S. report to a news organization, was sentenced to more than five years Thursday as part of a plea deal. Prosecutors called it the longest sentence ever imposed for a federal crime involving leaks to the media.

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AP sources: Cohen in talks to strike plea deal in fraud case

Lawyers for Donald Trump’s former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, were pursuing negotiations with prosecutors that could result in a plea deal and a court hearing was set for Tuesday afternoon, according to two people familiar with the financial fraud investigation. If a deal is struck, Cohen would plead guilty in federal court in Manhattan and agree to cooperate with the government.

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Indiana man convicted in double slaying wants 100-year sentence cut

A northeastern Indiana man convicted as a teenager in his mother and stepfather’s 1994 slayings is seeking to have his 100-year sentence shortened. Aaron Brown’s request for post-conviction relief contends court rulings have found that imposing a “de facto life sentence” on a juvenile is improper when their juvenile status isn’t considered.

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Muncie’s former building commissioner admits corruption

Muncie’s former building commissioner has agreed to plead guilty to federal corruption charges. In an agreement filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Indianapolis, Craig Nichols pleaded guilty to one count each of wire fraud and money laundering. Nichols faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on each count.

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Supreme Court remands sentence modification cases after new statute takes effect

The Indiana Supreme Court has remanded two cases that it previously granted transfer to back to the Indiana Court of Appeals for reconsideration in light of a new statute addressing permissible sentence modifications. The cases of State v. Stafford and Rodriguez v. State were sent back to the lower appellate court on Thursday after the 2018 version of Senate Enrolled Act 64 took effect on July 1.

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Former nursing home executive handed 57-month prison sentence

Daniel Benson, the former chief operating officer of American Senior Communities, was sentenced Friday to nearly five years in federal prison for his role in a massive kickback scheme at Indiana’s largest chain of nursing homes. Indiana Southern District Court Judge Tanya Walton Pratt sentenced Benson to a 57-month sentence as part of a plea agreement.

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