Evansville, IN – Vanderburgh County Prosecutor Diana Moers announces that, on April 12, 2023,
Brandon Artis was sentenced to 101 years for murdering his marijuana dealer in the
presence of a female civilian and her three children.
On March 6–9, 2023, a jury found Artis guilty of murder; one count of robbery
resulting in serious bodily injury, a Level 2 felony; one count of armed robbery, a Level 3
felony; one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, a Level 4
felony; and two counts of intimidation where the defendant drew or used a deadly
the weapon, a Level 5 felony.
Prosecutor Moers thanked Deputies Jeremy Kemper and Audrey Beckerle for their
efforts at the trial and for arguing for a 117-year sentence. Judge Robert J. Pigman of the
Vanderburgh Superior Court sentenced Artis to 101 years. Moers also thanks Evansville
Police Department’s street crimes unit Detectives Beitler, Ward, and Vanderburgh
Prosecutor’s Office investigator Jon Carter for their diligent efforts in removing this
a dangerous person from the streets and collecting evidence which led to a strong
conviction.
“This case exemplifies the significant and dangerous tie between drug dealing in
our community and violent gun crime. These children will forever be traumatized by what
they witnessed and the families are left to suffer. Today’s sentencing affirms that drug
dealing and committing a violent crime in Vanderburgh County are subject to the most
severe sanctions under Indiana law—we are pleased that this Defendant will spend the
rest of his life behind bars and out of our community.â€
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