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WHATS ON YOUR MIND TODAY?
“IS IT TRUE†will be posted on this coming Friday
Todays READERS POLL question is: Who would you support for Governor?
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NEWS: GREGG REPORTS $3 MILLION RAISED IN 2ND QUARTER; $8.6 MILLION OVERALLâ€
GREGG REPORTS $3 MILLION RAISED IN 2ND QUARTER; $8.6 MILLION OVERALL
Campaign has already surpassed total raised in 2012
INDIANAPOLIS –Today, the Gregg for Governor campaign reported raising $3.02 million in the second quarter of 2016, bringing its total contributions for the cycle to $8.6 million.
The campaign, which has already outraised the $6.4 million raised in Gregg’s 2012 effort, maintains a $5.8 million cash balance.
“Hoosiers are supporting John Gregg and Christina Hale because they want leaders who are committed to doing the job, to advancing ideas over ideology and to making a positive difference in their lives,’’ said Tim Henderson, Gregg for Governor campaign manager. “We are proud to have drawn support from Democrats, Republicans and Independents who are eager to elect John Gregg and put Indiana back on track.â€
The campaign received 5,454 different contributions (not including in-kind donations), of which 92 percent came from individuals. The average individual donation for the quarter was $212.
For more information on John Gregg, Christina Hale or their campaign, please visit www.greggforgovernor.com or call 317-510-1876.
Judges Uphold Teen’s 40-Year Sentence For Brutal Attack On Homeowner
Jennifer Nelson for www.theindianalawyer.com
A Grant County teen who participated in the rape of a homeowner during his burglary of her home deserves the 40-year sentence imposed in adult court, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Friday.
Larenz Jordan, then 15, and two others decided to rob a home occupied by R.H. while her husband was out of town in July 2014. They knew the home was occupied and when they encountered R.H., the three perpetrators took turns raping or assaulting her. She complied in order to protect her children from being awakened or harmed. The attack lasted for several hours and the three made her shower to attempt to get rid of any evidence. They took laptops and other electronics when they left.
Jordan was alleged to be a juvenile delinquent in August 2014, but was waived to be tried as an adult in Grant Circuit Court. He was charged with 15 offenses and found guilty of them all: 12 counts of rape, which included some as an accomplice; and one count each of conspiracy to commit rape, burglary and robbery. He received an aggregate 40-year sentence, with four years suspended to probation.
He argued in Larenz Jordan v. State of Indiana, 27A02-1511-CR-1897, that the trial court abused its discretion in determining he was “beyond rehabilitation under the juvenile justice system,†as required under I.C. 31-30-3-2(4). Jordan claimed that for the court to have entered findings concerning “criminal thinking,†as used in the waiver order, the record required evidence related to “criminogenic traits†as those are understood to apply within the context of evidence-based practices in sentencing and rehabilitation. Since no data was provided, the juvenile court’s waiver order was defective as a matter of law, he claimed.
The appellate judges rejected that argument, noting Jordan provided no legal authority to support that proposition. Nor will the court impose such a requirement as a matter of law, as his construction of the court’s order is excessively narrow and seeks to impose requirements not stated in the juvenile waiver statute, Judge L. Mark Bailey wrote.
The elements of the waiver statute are otherwise properly addressed and supported by evidence, he noted.
The judges also upheld the sentence, pointing out the offenses are “horrendous.†Jordan’s character also doesn’t support a reduction because he told the probation officer that the victim did not protest and didn’t seem to be upset about the incident. He also said he experienced a thrill when he took the victim’s van to leave the crime scene to buy snacks.
One probation officer who observed Jordan’s trial testimony opined that he has “no moral compass and I don’t know how to fix that.â€
“Simply put, even given his age, Jordan’s character speaks poorly of him and of the likelihood of rehabilitation,†Bailey wrote.
YESTERYEAR: Ross Theater
The Ross Theater is pictured here in 1993, shortly before the building was razed. It opened with Hollywood-style fanfare on Christmas Day in 1949, adjacent to the newly developed Ross Center at Washington Avenue and Boeke Road. Throughout its history, the original marquee, illuminated by a thousand light bulbs and neon tubing, remained intact. Patrons were pampered by the interior’s elegant marble foyer, plush carpeting, colorful tapestry walls, and even free bottle warmers in the crying room when the Ross first opened. The theater was transformed into a bargain-priced movie house in its latter years, finally closing in 1991 when it was deemed “functionally obsolescent.â€
FOOTNOTES: We want to thank Patricia Sides, Archivist of Willard Library for contributing this picture that shall increase people’s awareness and appreciation of Evansville’s rich history. If you have any historical pictures of Vanderburgh County or Evansville please contact please contact Patricia Sides, Archivist Willard Library at 812) 425-4309, ext. 114 or e-mail her at www.willard.lib.in.us.
STOCK IN TRADE by Jim Redwine
Gavel Gamut By Jim Redwine
(Week of 18 July 2016)
STOCK IN TRADE
Abraham Lincoln who was a storekeeper before he was a lawyer is credited with the statement:
“A lawyer’s time and advice is his stock in trade.â€
But if an attorney becomes a judge what is her/his stock in trade? For what do we pay our judges? It is not their time; judges receive salaries. It is not their advice; judges are not supposed to give advice, only decisions based on the evidence and the law.
And why do we need somebody whose job it is to not give advice, i.e. to keep their personal opinions to themselves and decide cases objectively?
Society has plenty of people whose role it is to suggest and execute policy. County commissioners and council people, mayors, governors and presidents come to mind.
We also have lots of people whose job it is to pass legislation and fund it. State legislatures and Congress have those duties.
Such executive and legislative bodies have not only the right but also the obligation to express opinions and advocate for their positions. We elect these people for those very purposes. We may agree or disagree with our Executive and Legislative bodies as we choose.
But where do we look for objective decisions on important matters? What gives us confidence that issues wrangled over by individuals or such public servants as presidents and senators will be resolved fairly and impartially by that third branch of government, the Judiciary?
Judges have no armies or militia. Judges cannot impose taxes or pass legislation. Why do we even listen to much less comply with a judge’s decision, especially one we disagree with?
When I have taught judges from other countries such as Palestine or Ukraine or Russia they invariably ask me how I get citizens to accept my court judgments and follow them. In many other countries the concept of the Judiciary as a separate, equal and independent branch of government is impossible for the judges themselves to grasp. They are so used to court decisions being based on the political leanings and connections of judges nobody expects an unbiased judgment. America is supposed to be different.
Of course, we are all partisan. If a sitting judge voices a political opinion we agree with, we not only may not mind, we might applaud. Yeah for our side! However, should a judge portray prejudice against persons or positions we support we lose confidence in our legal system. And that is the only stock in trade judges have, i.e., confidence the judge is impartial.
The momentary elation we experience when some judge violates her/his duty and publicly rails for or against a particular person, party or position fades rapidly when we realize the judge is acting from prejudice. This is so because we know that we may have to face a judge who decides cases on whim not law.
There are many reasons America remains the land of the free but one of the most vital reasons is our independent judiciary. Are America’s judges human? Yes. Are they prejudiced? Yes. Is the perception they are going to decide cases without allowing their prejudices to control their view of the evidence important. You know it!
Synek signs with Pittsburgh Pirates organization
After joining the Lake Erie Crushers of the Frontier League following an impressive senior campaign for the University of Evansville baseball team, Boomer Synek will be on the move once again as the Northbrook, Ill., native signed a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization on Friday.
“I’m really excited for the opportunity that I was given,†Synek said. “I wouldn’t be here without the love and support that I’ve gotten from my family, friends, teammates and coaches. I’m hoping that I can come in and help make a difference in the Pirates organization and continue to compete on a daily basis playing the game that I love.â€
Synek, who earned First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors at catcher this past spring, will be the fifth Purple Ace playing with an affiliated club this season, joining former first round pick Kyle Freeland (Colorado Rockies), Eric Stamets (Cleveland Indians), Kyle Lloyd (San Diego Padres) and Kevin Kaczmarski (New York Mets). Both Freeland and Stamets are playing on the AAA level with Albuquerque and Columbus, respectively, while Lloyd is in AA with San Antonio and Kaczmarski is in high-A with St. Lucie.
Synek will begin his affiliated career with the Gulf Coast Pirates in Bradenton, Fla.
After missing much of 2015 due to injury, Synek moved over to catcher prior to the 2016 campaign and thrived. He led the team with a .341 batting average, which included a league-best .383 clip in MVC contests. He went on to finish the season with 40 runs batted in, 38 scores, 15 doubles and six home runs. He also walked 31 times to post a team-best .439 on-base mark, and he was just as stout defensively, creating 32 outs on the bases, catching 19 runners attempting to steal and picking off 13 more.
“I’m very happy for Boomer,†UE head coach Wes Carroll said. “He worked very hard with the position change, and it’s great to see him rewarded for his efforts. It’s great to see another Ace in professional baseball, and I know he will represent our program very well.â€
With Lake Erie, Synek played in just four contests before getting picked up, doubling and knocking in a pair of runs over the course of seven at-bats. He also walked four times.
Evansville man found guilty of burglary, robbery
An Evansville man was found guilty of multiple charges stemming from a violent burglary last fall.
Marquell M. Jackson, 23, was convicted of all nine counts against him including two Level 1 felonies of burglary resulting in serious bodily injury, aggravated battery, attempted armed robbery and attempted armed robbery resulting in serious bodily injury.
This comes after a four-day trial before Vanderburgh Circuit Court Magistrate Kelli Fink. The jury deliberated for about 40 minutes.
Jackson and his co-defendants are accused of trying to steal drugs and money from the apartments located at the 711 Tavern on 711 E. Virginia Street on Oct. 26, 2015. A shooting broke out between the group of men trying to steal the items and the victims and resulted in serious injuries.
Jackson also was found guilty of a gang enhancement that will double his sentence. He will be sentenced at 10 a.m. on Aug. 12.
Attempt to Locate – Robbery Suspect and Vehicle
The EPD is asking for the public’s help on locating suspects in a robbery and criminal confinement as well as the victim’s vehicle.
At approximately 12 noon on Friday, July 15, 2016 officers responded to 514 West Oregon to the report that a man had been tied up and robbed. The victim, Harold Shelton, stated that two people that he identified as Andre Bell and Kellie Rogers had hit him causing him to lose consciousness. He said that they then tied him up and stole his vehicle along with other items from his apartment.
The victim’s vehicle is a 1985 Chev S10 Blazer. It is blue over silver with an Indiana, In God We Trust License plate, XLA 120.
It is believed that the vehicle may still be in the possession of the suspects. If the vehicle is located, please call 911 and do not attempt to take any other actions.
The suspects are described as follows:
Andre Bell – 30 years-old, B/M – 5’10’’ – 180 pounds with tattoos of a “tear drop†and “triangles†under his right eye, a tattoo of “Natisha†under his left eye and a tattoo of “Barbara†on his left arm.
Kellie Rogers – 29 years-old, W/F – 5’7†– 130 pounds with a tattoo of a heart on her upper chest and a tattoo of a rose on fire on her left arm.
If anyone has knowledge about the crime or the location of the suspects, please call the Evansville Police Department at 812-436-7979 or the WeTip line at 1-800-78-CRIME.