Lake County might ease up on prosecuting marijuana possession
A northwestern Indiana county near Michigan and Illinois is proposing to relax penalties for marijuana possession after the neighboring states legalized pot use.
Misdemeanor
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Burglary conviction upheld in dispute over pet cats
A man who battered and blinded another man for sending his pet cats to an animal shelter lost his appeal of his felony burglary conviction Wednesday.
New trial ordered for man denied counsel in criminal case
A man who asked for legal counsel that was not appointed in his misdemeanor invasion of privacy case will get a new trial, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday.
Michigan City mayor facing felony charges amid reelection bid
The 2019 Michigan City mayoral election is facing a controversial legal undercurrent as felony charges remain pending against Mayor Ron Meer. But as the LaPorte County court system searches for a judge who can take the case, Meer is alleging an “untenable conflict of interest” and possible political motivations should remove the proceedings from the LaPorte County Prosecutor’s Office.
Porter County driver accused of letting students drive bus sentenced
A former northwestern Indiana school bus driver who authorities say allowed children as young as 11 years old drive a bus has been sentenced to probation. Joandrea McAtee, Portage, was sentenced Monday to nearly two years of probation.
Mears steps into top job, halts minor marijuana prosecutions
A week after he became acting Marion County prosecutor, Ryan Mears announced the office will no longer be prosecuting defendants accused of possessing 30 grams or less of marijuana.
Authorities: Hartford City man found with drugs, synthetic urine
A 49-year-old Indiana man on probation has been charged with new drug charges including possession of synthetic urine. Kirk Allen Boughman was charged Friday with felony possession of methamphetamine and three misdemeanors.
JQC: Judge’s suspension should remain until end of disciplinary proceedings
Public trust in the integrity of the judicial system would be compromised if Judge Andrew Adams were reinstated to the Clark County bench before the end of his disciplinary action, the Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications argued in new court filings.
Suspended judge involved in shooting moves for reinstatement
The suspended Clark Circuit Court judge who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery for his role in an Indianapolis shooting that also wounded a second southern Indiana jurist has asked to be reinstated to the bench because doing so “is in the best interest of the Clark County judicial system.”
IMPD officer recorded punching teen faces criminal charges
An Indianapolis police officer that punched a 17-year-old outside an Indianapolis high school last month now faces criminal charges.
Allen County sheriff could face suit over festival altercation
A northeastern Indiana sheriff charged in an altercation with a teenage boy could face a civil lawsuit from the youth’s family. Brad and Erin Bullerman filed a tort claim in August against Allen County Sheriff David Gladieux, alleging unlawful and excessive force.
Lack of endangerment reverses public intoxication conviction
A man’s public intoxication conviction has been reversed after he successfully argued to the Indiana Court of Appeals that his life was not endangered by being drunk next to an Indianapolis street.
Clark Circuit judge wounded in shooting enters guilty plea
One of the two judges injured in a downtown Indianapolis shooting pleaded guilty Monday afternoon to misdemeanor battery stemming from the May 1 incident. He will serve no jail time.
Attorney who exposed himself, allegedly stole client funds, resigns
An Indianapolis attorney who in the past three years was charged with indecency, public nudity and theft has resigned from the Indiana bar.
Divided ruling: Felony reduced to misdemeanor means longer expungement wait
The Indiana Court of Appeals on Friday asked the Indiana General Assembly for guidance as it sharply divided over whether minor felonies reduced to misdemeanor convictions should trigger new five-year waiting periods for people seeking to expunge their criminal records. The majority ruled they should, a result the dissenting judge called “unjust and ill-advised.”
OWI conviction upheld for driver snoozing in parked, running car
A man asleep behind the wheel of a parked but running car after a night of drinking couldn’t convince the Indiana Court of Appeals that there was insufficient evidence to prove he had been operating the vehicle.
Anderson mayor’s son faces attorney discipline complaint
The son of Anderson’s mayor, who also previously served as an assistant city attorney, is facing an attorney discipline complaint stemming from his misdemeanor conviction after a drunken-driving property damage crash last year. The Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission last week filed a formal complaint against Evan B. Broderick, son of Anderson Democratic Mayor Thomas Broderick Jr., who also is an attorney and former Madison County prosecutor.
Reversal: Drugs found in sock not admissible
Three Clark County drug convictions were overturned Thursday after the Indiana Court of Appeals determined drug evidence found in a suspect’s sock should not have been admitted.
Gun found in vehicle inventory erroneously admitted, COA rules
A man’s conviction for driving on a suspended license will stand, but the Indiana Court of Appeals vacated his conviction for carrying a handgun without a license on finding a search of his vehicle was not pursuant to departmental routine or regulation.
Conflicting opinions: Amid call to abolish city, town courts, proponents say venues have value
If you’ve ever been cited for violating a local ordinance, odds are you’ve ended up in a city or town court. While there have been calls to abolish them, the small-matter venues also have their defenders.