Local graduates are gaining experience as interns with State Rep. Holli Sullivan (R-Evansville) and her fellow members of the House of Representatives during the 2017 legislative session.

Ryan Francis, a resident of Evansville, is the son of Dan and Kristi Francis. A North High School graduate, Francis is a junior at Indiana University in Bloomington where he is majoring in economics and political science.

Rachel Swartwood is the daughter of Steve and Lisane Swartwood. Also a resident of Evansville, Swartwood attended Memorial High School. She is a 2016 graduate of Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis and earned a bachelor’s degree in civic leadership.

As legislative interns, Francis and Swartwood correspond with constituents through phone calls, letters and emails. They also help staff committee hearings and floor proceedings.

“Interning with the House of Representatives is a great opportunity for students to learn and gain experience with our state government,” Sullivan said. “The work Ryan, Rachel and our interns do behind the scenes helps the Indiana General Assembly to function more efficiently on a daily basis.”

The House of Representatives offers paid internship opportunities to college students, law-school students, graduate students and recent college graduates for the duration of each legislative session.

Visit www.indianahouserepublicans.com/2017-house-republican-internship-program for more information about the House Republican internship program.

Braden Harp joined WEVV from WEIU-TV in Charleston, IL where he was a weather anchor.

Braden says “I am excited to move to Evansville. I am originally from Robinson, Illinois, and I went to a university in a town that was not much bigger than Robinson. Evansville has a vibrant community spirit, and I’m looking forward to covering stories that matter to the Tri-State.”

Braden graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Geography, and minors in Broadcast Meteorology and Journalism.

Judges Reverse Resisting Law Enforcement Conviction

Olivia Covington for www.theindianalawyer.com

The Indiana Court of Appeals has overturned a man’s resisting law enforcement conviction after finding that the police officer’s actions justified the man’s resistance.

In Jefferson Jean-Baptiste v. State of Indiana, 49A02-1608-CR-1798, Marion County Sheriff’s Deputy James Russo was attempting to serve civil arrest warrant on Jefferson Jean-Baptiste in April 2016, but Jean-Baptiste refused to comply. After Russo tried to grab his arm, Jean-Baptiste pulled away, so Russo, acting on the assumption that Jean-Baptiste was resisting arrest, entered the home and placed him in custody.

Jean-Baptiste was convicted of resisting law enforcement and argued on appeal that the state had not presented sufficient evidence to support his conviction. The Indiana Court of Appeals agreed, with Judge Edward Najam pointing to the case of Casselman v. State, 472 N.E.2d 1310 (Ind. Ct. App. 1985) and Indiana Code 35-41-3-2 as the panel’s guidance.

Specifically, Najam wrote that Russo was outside the residence while Jean-Baptiste was inside when Russo, “without permission or legal justification,” reached across the threshold and grabbed Jean-Baptiste. Thus, under Indiana Code, Jean-Baptiste was justified in his resistance of law enforcement.

Further, the appellate court reversed Jean-Baptiste’s conviction because it found, sua sponte, that the trial court committed fundamental error by denying his right to a jury trial without first eliciting a personal waiver from him on the record.