Mandatory lifetime parole is a direct, as opposed to collateral, consequence of a plea to voluntary manslaughter and that a defendant is entitled to be advised regarding this consequence before pleading guilty.
Appeals
Sharon Parsons, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Timothy Parson, et al. v. Crum & Forster Specialty Insurance Comp. & Danielle Benjamin, et al., No. 25A-CT-2307, __ N.E.3d __ (Ind. Ct. App., Jun. 22, 2026).
Bound by precedent from our Supreme Court construing similar pollution provisions in insurance policies, we find that because the Crum & Forster policy did not unambiguously identify methanol as a pollutant, the trial court erred in applying the TPPL part to the Parsons’ claims.
Masterson v. State, No. 25A-CR-2176, __ N.E.3d __ (Ind. Ct. App., June 16, 2026).
A probationer’s lack of fault does not bear on whether a violation occurred but only on the sanction imposed.
Burton v. State, No. 25A-CR-2659, __ N.E.3d __ (Ind. Ct. App., June 5, 2026).
The assisting a criminal statute, Indiana Code section 35-44.1-2-5, does not require proof of the assisted party’s interstate flight when the State charges a defendant with having assisted a fugitive from justice.
In re Petition to Docket Trust of B. Alice McCoy, et al v. McCoy, No. 25A-TR-367, __ N.E.3d __ (Ind. Ct. App., May 8, 2026)
Under Indiana Evidence Rule 806, when a hearsay statement, such as the attorney’s deposition, has been admitted into evidence, the hearsay declarant’s credibility may be attacked as though they had testified in person.