Indianapolis – Governor Mike Pence today announced that the Indiana Department of Revenue will conduct Tax Amnesty 2015 from September 15 through November 16, 2015. Of the outstanding taxes collected, the first $84 million will fund the Indiana Regional Cities Development Fund.

“To continue to attract new investment and talent across our state, we must grow locally and think regionally,” said Governor Pence. “The 2015 Tax Amnesty program plays a critical role in helping to jumpstart the Regional Cities Initiative, encouraging collaboration among Hoosier communities to develop ways to bolster investment, attract talent, and continue Indiana on a pathway to economic growth and success.”

Tax amnesty is a limited-time opportunity for both individuals and businesses to pay past-due base tax liabilities free of penalty, interest, and collection fees.  Existing tax liabilities, for all tax types managed by the department, for periods ending prior to Jan. 1, 2013, are eligible to participate in Tax Amnesty 2015. Approximately 40 different tax types are eligible for participation.

In return for the full payment of the base tax, the state will:

• Waive penalties, interest, and collection fees for eligible liabilities;
• Release tax liens that have been imposed on existing liabilities; and
• Not seek civil or criminal prosecution against any individual or entity.

Indiana’s first tax amnesty program was conducted in 2005, during which the state collected $244 million in taxes. Taxpayers who participated in the 2005 amnesty program are not eligible to participate in Tax Amnesty 2015.

Tax Amnesty 2015 is authorized by the biennial budget in House Enrolled Act 1001, which was signed into law by Governor Mike Pence in May 2015.

Additional program details can be found at www.taxamnesty.in.gov.

Marilyn  Odendahl for ww.theindianalawyer.com

A Pike County man challenging the jury’s finding that he was not insane or mentally ill did not meet what the Indiana Supreme Court acknowledged was a “heavy burden” to overturn the guilty verdict.

Andrew Satterfield appealed his convictions and sentence of life imprisonment without parole. The state charged him with murder, a felony; arson, a Class B felony; and attempted arson, a Class B felony, for killing his mother and burning down her house in December 2011.

At trial, Satterfield claimed he was not responsible by reason of insanity or was guilty but mentally ill. The jury rejected his defense and found him guilty.

Before the Supreme Court, Satterfield argued the jury’s decision not to find him insane or guilty but mentally ill was contrary to law. The unanimous panel disagreed.

Citing Myers v. State, 27 N.E.3d at 1076 and Hurst v. State, 699 N.E.2d at 654, Chief Justice Loretta Rush, writing for the court, held the jury has the right to disbelieve expert testimony of a defendant’s insanity or mental illness and rely instead on other evidence like demeanor, lay opinion testimony, and the circumstances of the crime. Juries may consider the additional evidence to either accept or reject expert testimony even when the expert testimony is unanimous.

In Satterfield’s case, the Supreme Court pointed out the three experts were not in consensus. They disagreed over whether Satterfield was schizophrenic and whether he was insane at the time of the crime.

Moreover, the non-expert evidence contradicted Satterfield’s defense. The Supreme Court noted that the jury was also presented with evidence that he did not seek immediate medical attention for his severe burns because he did not want to attract the police; he changed his story as to why he shot his mother; and he did not disclose his prior psychiatric commitment when he applied for a handgun license in 2010.

Consequently, the Supreme Court gave substantial deference to the jury.

“In view of the disputed evidence – both expert and non-expert – taken as a whole, we cannot say the evidence is without conflict on both Satterfield’s insanity and mental illness, and so we affirm the jury’s verdict as not contrary to law,” Rush wrote in Andrew S. Satterfield v. State of Indiana, 63S00-1401-LW-306.

Indianapolis – On the heels of her return from Governor Mike Pence’s jobs and economic development mission to China last month, First Lady Karen Pence will complete the cultural exchange between Indiana and its Chinese sister state, Zhejiang Province. Tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. at The Indianapolis Public Library’s Central Library Mrs. Pence will present Jackie Nytes, chief executive officer of The Indianapolis Public Library, with pieces of Chinese literature gifted to Indiana from the Hangzhou Public Library, located in Zhejiang. Details below.

Tuesday, June 30:

10:00 a.m. EDT – First Lady Karen Pence to present pieces of Chinese literature gifted to Indiana from the Hangzhou Public Library, located in Zhejiang
*Media are welcome to attend.
The Indianapolis Public Library’s Central Library, 40 E. St. Clair Street, Sixth Floor, New Tower