Terre Haute - The Indiana Lawyer

Jailed Fort Wayne attorney gets interim suspension for embezzlement convictions

June 24, 2019

A Fort Wayne attorney currently serving a six-month embezzlement sentence in federal prison has been suspended from the practice of law in Indiana effective immediately following his felony convictions. The Indiana Supreme Court issued an order of interim suspension against Randall B. Stiles, who was sentenced in March to six months behind bars for two counts of felony bankruptcy fraud and one count of misdemeanor failure to file a tax return.

Cash held by state shutters domestic violence shelters

May 28, 2019

A much longer-than-ordinary delay funneling state and federal grant dollars through the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute to domestic violence agencies has had dire results for many, causing at least one shelter for victims of abuse to close.

‘American Taliban’ Lindh being released from Terre Haute prison after 17 years

May 23, 2019

The California man who became known as the “American Taliban” after his battlefield capture in Afghanistan in November 2001 is being released from a federal prison in Indiana. Thirty-eight-year-old John Walker Lindh has spent more than 17 years in prison after pleading guilty to providing support to the Taliban.

‘American Taliban’ John Walker Lindh to be released

May 22, 2019

John Walker Lindh, the young Californian who became known as the American Taliban after he was captured by U.S. forces in the invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, is set to go free from the Federal Correctional Institute in Terre Haute after nearly two decades in prison.

Holcomb signs bill to legalize sports betting, allow Terre Haute casino

May 9, 2019

Gov. Eric Holcomb signed gambling legislation into law Wednesday — the last day the bill was eligible for action — bringing significant changes to Indiana’s casino industry this year.

Police: DNA determines 1972 killer of Indiana student

May 7, 2019

Police say a man just identified as the killer of an Indiana State University student in 1972 was killed in a shootout with police six years later. Terre Haute Police Chief Shawn Keen said Monday that a DNA sample from a son of Jeffrey Lynn Hand was used to connect him to the killing of 19-year-old Pamela Milam.

Woman pleads guilty to neglect after removing feeding tube

May 3, 2019

A Terre Haute woman has agreed to plead guilty to neglect in the dehydration death of her infant son after she removed his feeding tube. Tabetha Smith, 39, would face a 16-year sentence if the plea entered Thursday is accepted. Vigo Superior Judge Sarah Mullican took the plea agreement under advisement.

Woman sentenced for helping brother avoid slaying arrest

April 30, 2019

A Terre Haute woman who authorities say helped her brother avoid arrest in the slaying of a woman whose body was found in her submerged SUV has been sentenced after pleading guilty to assisting a criminal. Teresa Pitts has been sentenced to serve two years in prison, one year on home detention and one year suspended to formal probation.

Bill allowing sports betting, casino moves passes General Assembly

April 25, 2019

The Indiana General Assembly approved legislation Wednesday night that allows Hoosiers to place wagers on professional and college sports as soon as Sept. 1. The legislation heads to Gov. Eric Holcomb, who can sign it into law, veto it or let it become law without his signature.

Report: Bosma has deal arranged by casino investor

April 19, 2019

The leader of the Indiana House is skipping votes on a major gambling-related bill after a casino owner helped arrange a local government contract with his law firm.

House Ways and Means panel to hear Gary casino move bill

April 8, 2019

An Indiana House panel is set to take up a bill that would allow one of Gary’s casinos to move to Terre Haute.

Terre Haute inmate awarded damages for excessive force

April 2, 2019

An inmate at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute was awarded $2,000 in damages after he won his excessive force lawsuit, with the Southern Indiana District Court finding the “lack of institutional evidence of the incident was exacerbated by the (Bureau of Prisons’) treatment of (the inmate’s) sensitive grievance.”

Report: Holcomb got private flights from casino magnate

March 28, 2019

A newspaper reported that a casino magnate treated Gov. Eric Holcomb to two private jet flights last year and made big donations to Holcomb’s largest 2016 campaign donor while he was pushing for changes to Indiana law that would benefit his business.

Duke Energy to create plan for Indiana coal ash ponds

March 11, 2019

Duke Energy will need to create a corrective action plan for its coal ash ponds in Indiana after mandatory groundwater testing found the ponds have contaminants at levels higher than groundwater protection standards.

COA to travel for three arguments next week

March 7, 2019

Three Appeals on Wheels oral arguments will be heard next week, involving wrongful termination of a hospital employee, suppression of evidence from a pat-down search and a hotel’s appeal of granted possession.

Indiana man pleads not guilty to murder in Illinois court

March 6, 2019

An Indiana man has pleaded not guilty to murder charges accusing him of killing a woman in Illinois more than four years ago. Connor W. Scott is accused of killing 20-year-old Kaylyn Whitaker of Terre Haute at Scott’s then-home in Martinsville, Illinois.

Terre Haute man pleads guilty to shooting death of teen

March 6, 2019

Terre Haute man has pleaded guilty to reckless homicide in the shooting death of a high school student during a party. Nathan Derickson, who was 19 at the time of the shooting of 17-year-old William Garett Sands last March 28, agreed to a plea deal Tuesday that caps his sentence at 10 years.

E-filing now available in Wayne County

March 4, 2019

Wayne circuit and superior courts have instituted electronic filing, joining most Indiana’s 92 counties who have already implemented the change.

Indiana seeks injunction against assisted living center where woman died

February 22, 2019

State officials are seeking an injunction against a western Indiana assisted living center where a woman died after wandering outside on a cold night. The request filed on behalf of the State Department of Health seeks to stop Bethesda Gardens in Terre Haute from providing nursing care outside the scope of an unlicensed assisted living facility.

Appeals court heads to Terre Haute to hear murder case

February 12, 2019

A panel of the Indiana Court of Appeals traveled to Terre Haute today hear oral argument in a case involving murder, attempted murder and armed robbery.

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