Petition to revoke probation based on commission of theft, unlike criminal charge of theft, need not identify the stolen property with specificity.
Gibson v. State, No. 22S00-1206-DP-359, ___ N.E.3d ___ (Ind. Sept. 24, 2015).
Six prospective jurors’ exposure to information that defendant was separately charged with two other murders did not warrant striking entire venire or declaring mistrial; trial court’s extensive small-group and individual voir dire identified the affected jurors, and all were immediately dismissed for cause.
Helsley v. State, No. 63S00-1406-LW-440, ___ N.E.3d ___ (Ind. Sept. 24, 2015).
Role of defendant’s alleged mental illness in double-murder was not so “exceptional and extraordinary” as to warrant appellate revision of LWOP sentence. Jury’s weighing of LWOP aggravators and mitigators is not subject to appellate review.
Slaybaugh v. State, No. 79A02-1411-CR-798, ___ N.E.3d ___ (Ind. Ct. App., Sept. 24, 2015).
Fact that juror was Facebook “friends” with relatives of the victim did not establish juror misconduct, when juror testified that she did not know them personally, and trial court found her testimony truthful.
Burnell v. State, No. 29A02-1412-CR-849, ___ N.E.3d ___ (Ind. Ct. App., Sept. 24, 2015).
OWI suspect’s drivers license was properly suspended under Implied Consent Law; walking away from officer and disregarding request to stop constituted refusal to submit to chemical test, even though her words had expressed reluctant agreement to be tested.