Life without parole sentence could not be imposed when jury made no express finding the alleged aggravating circumstance had been proven beyond a reasonable doubt and the jury returned no sentencing recommendation.
Criminal
State v. Schlecty, No. 38S04-0905-CR-246, __ N.E.2d __ (Ind., Mar. 24, 2010)
Fourth Amendment permits a reasonably conducted warrantless search of a probationer’s property supported by a probation search term and a reasonable suspicion of criminal activity.
Tolliver v. State, No. 45A03-0906-CR-250, __ N.E.2d __ (Ind. Ct. App., Mar. 18, 2010)
Allowing police officer to testify as an expert on “body language” bearing on credibility was error, but testimony officer actually gave was admissible lay opinion evidence about physical behavior indicating reluctance to cooperate.
Dowell v. State, No. 32S01–1003–PC–136, __ N.E.2d __ (Ind., Mar. 10, 2010)
Expressly adopts “prison mailbox rule” for filings under the appellate rules, but as filing of motion to correct error is subject to the Trial Rules the prisoner’s use of regular mail, rather than registered or certified mail, meant the motion was not filed until received by clerk and here was untimely.
State v. Shackleford, No. 10A01-0907-PC-353, __ N.E.2d __ (Ind. Ct. App., Mar. 10, 2010)
Affirms denial of Post-Conviction Rule 1 motion for change of judge.