Criminal Law

Justices consider ‘youth program center’ issue

November 24, 2009 by: Chris Buckley

Indiana Lawyer Full ArticleWalter Whatley isn’t disputing the fact that he was in possession of cocaine and that he should be held accountable for that. Instead, the Indianapolis defendant argues that he shouldn’t have been convicted of Class A felony cocaine possession, which is what he was charged with given that he had the cocaine … Continue reading Justices consider ‘youth program center’ issue

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FBI releases hate crime stats

November 23, 2009 by: Chris Buckley

Indiana Lawyer Full ArticleMore than 9,000 offenses in the U.S. in 2008 motivated by bias to particular groups of people were reported to the FBI in 2008, according to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program that publishes those statistics, the FBI announced today.

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Prosecutor misconduct leads to reversal

by: Chris Buckley

Indiana Lawyer Full ArticleThe Indiana Court of Appeals reversed a defendant’s conviction of intimidation because several acts of misconduct constituted fundamental error. The appellate court also ruled the man could be retried on the charge. In Marlow J. Lainhart v. State of Indiana, No. 24A01-0904-CR-184, Marlow Lainhart appealed his Class A misdemeanor conviction of intimidation, … Continue reading Prosecutor misconduct leads to reversal

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Do Defendants Get Enough Warning About a Guilty Plea’s Consequences?

by: Chris Buckley

Tony Mauro, The National Law Journal The attention-seeking parents of the Colorado “balloon boy” must not have had their thinking caps on last month when they told police their son was aboard a runaway hot air balloon. But when their misadventure got them hauled into court, they suddenly smartened up.

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Hammond Legal aid clinic sees a surge in demand

by: Chris Buckley

‘More people on brink of crisis,’ director says NWI Times Article HAMMOND | Uncertain circumstances triggered by the economy have brought record numbers of residents to the Hammond Legal Aid Clinic’s downtown offices for help. The nonprofit agency just completed its fifth year of pro bono, or free, legal services, and applications for advice and … Continue reading Hammond Legal aid clinic sees a surge in demand

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Teen pleads guilty; trial for parents set

November 22, 2009 by: Chris Buckley

Post-Tribune Full ArticleVALPARAISO — A Hebron boy charged as an adult for pistol-whipping a robbery victim pleaded guilty Tuesday. Miles Michael Folsom, 16, admitted to felony robbery, criminal confinement and an unrelated burglary as part of his plea agreement. At his Jan. 15 sentencing, he faces up to 20 years in prison if he serves … Continue reading Teen pleads guilty; trial for parents set

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No sentencing in DUI case

by: Chris Buckley

Post-Tribune Article VALPARAISO — A Tinley Park, Ill., man who was supposed to be sentenced Tuesday for killing another man in a Porter County drunken driving accident did not show. Michael Michalski, 55, is under medical supervision after being hospitalized for six days earlier this month for a blood clot in his leg, according to … Continue reading No sentencing in DUI case

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Man faces federal charge in courthouse plot

November 21, 2009 by: Chris Buckley

Indiana Lawyer Full ArticleThe Pike County man arrested after police discovered his plan to blow up the county courthouse now faces federal charges.

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Judges disagree as how to review sentence

by: Chris Buckley

Indiana Lawyer Full Article A panel of Indiana Court of Appeals judges affirmed today that a defendant’s sentence following a guilty plea wasn’t inappropriate, but the judges didn’t agree as to how to reach that conclusion.

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Court says why it removed special prosecutor

November 17, 2009 by: Chris Buckley

Indiana Lawyer Full ArticleThe Indiana Supreme Court released an original action Nov. 13 explaining why it ordered an appointed special prosecutor in Delaware County removed from a case.

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