A defendant waives his/her right to appeal a restitution order after signing a plea agreement leaving all terms of the sentence to the trial court’s discretion.
Criminal
Miller v. State, No. 21A-CR-2315, __ N.E.3d __ (Ind. Ct. App., Nov. 1, 2021).
Bifurcation of unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon (SVF) charges serves the purpose of protecting a defendant’s right to the presumption of innocence and ensures a fair trial.
Gliva v. State, No. 21A-CR-332, __ N.E.3d __ (Ind. Ct. App., Oct. 7, 2021).
The unaware prong of the sexual battery statute — Ind. Code § 35-42-4-8(a)(2) — applies when the victim lacks knowledge or acquaintance of the touching or is unconscious of the touching as the touching is occurring. Unawareness that the touching is going to occur alone does not satisfy the provision.
Blake v. State, No. 201-CR-405, __ N.E.3d __ (Ind. Ct. App., Sept. 28, 2021).
The Covid-19 pandemic constituted an emergency for purposes of Criminal Rule 4(B
Beachey v. State, No. 20A-CR-2121, __ N.E.3d __ (Ind. Ct. App., Sept. 28, 2021).
The Indiana Supreme Court explicitly established that, beginning on January 1, 2020, “the court should utilize the results of an evidence-based risk assessment approved by the Indiana Office of Court Services, and such other information as the court finds relevant.” Crim. R. 26(B). This requirement cannot be circumvented by simply choosing not to order the preparation of an evidence-based risk assessment.