Melinda
Loveless’ motion to overturn her murder plea bargain has been
denied by Jefferson Circuit Court. Loveless was 16 when she was
charged as an adult and convicted for taking part in the murder
of 12-year-old Shanda Sharer. Of the four people involved in the
murder, all four were convicted, though only two are still
serving time, with the other two released early for good
behavior and are currently on probation. Loveless was convicted
of murder, arson, and criminal confinement. In her most recent
appeal, she was seeking release or a new trial on the basis that
her counsel during the original trial was ineffective, whether
the Indiana Penal Code was unconstitutional, and whether
Loveless would have been legally allowed to enter a plea
agreement as a minor. The Indiana Court of Appeals agreed with
the Circuit Courts decision after a meeting on Friday.
County Commissioner
Candidate Files for Recount
(Indiana 9)
A Harrison County Commissioner candidate filed a
petition yesterday for a recount of ballots. Republican Rhonda
Rhoads lost to Democrat Carl Mathes for Harrison County
Commissioner. According to final totals, Mathes defeated Rhoads
by 32 votes. The proposed recount requires a hand count of all
17,686 ballots, plus another 893 ballots that did not show
either candidate being selected.
Salem Man Arrested
After Domestic Dispute
(The Salem Leader)
A Salem man was
arrested Friday after a domestic dispute with his girlfriend.
39-year-old James Lykins of Mulberry Street was arrested after
allegedly smothering his girlfriend with a pillow and then
beating her. Lykins was arrested and charged with criminal
confinement, strangulation, intimidation, and domestic battery.
New Albany Man
Arrested for Child Molesting
(News-tribune.net)
A New Albany man
was arrested on charges of child molesting after allegedly
showing a 10-year-old girl pornographic movies and then having
intercourse with her. 34-year-old Daniel Sieg, was charged with
child molesting after he allegedly touched her inappropriately
during the fall months of 2007 at a home in Floyds Knobs. A
15-day-hold was placed on Sieg with bond set at $250,000. Sieg
faces 20 to 50 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine if
convicted.
Woman Sues
BMV Over License Plate
(AP)
A
woman is suing the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles for refusing
to issue her a personalized license plate with the words "BE
GODS." The suit was filed in federal court yesterday, the same
day the Indiana Court of Appeals upheld the constitutionality of
the state's "In God We Trust" license plate. Plaintiff Elizabeth
Ferris of Cambridge City says her plate is intended to be read
as "Be God's," however, the BMV prohibits vanity plates
referring to race, religion, deity, ethnicity, gender, sexual
orientation or political party or affiliation. Ferris says she
has had the same license plate with those words for the last
several years and it wasn’t until she missed her renewal
deadline in October, that the BMV rejected it. According to the
BMV the agency is reviewing the suit.
Hunters Can Donate Venison to Shelters
(Plains Dealer-Sun)
Deer season started
on Saturday throughout Indiana,
but what some hunters are doing with their kills may surprise
you. (Dan – 1) 350 pounds of venison were delivered on Thursday
to the Jennings County Coordinating Council’s food pantry by the
Jennings Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry’s Muscatatuck
chapter. The chapter raised $3500 to pay for the processing of
the meat, so that any hunters wanting to donate deer can simply
take them to the Westport
Locker and fill out the paperwork there. Then Westport Locker
has agreed to give a discount for processing deer for the cause.
More than thirty deer were donated last year, the first for this
program. Anyone wanting to donate money to the program can do so
through the Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry website at
fhfh.org and using the local chapter cod of IN-10, or by
contacting Charlie St. John at (812)-592-0493 or 346-9580. All
contributions to FHFH, a nonprofit group, are tax deductible.
If you see news happening,
give us a call at 752.3688 or 1.800.441.1053 or e-mail us at
I1053news@verizon.net.
Scottsburg Sheriff's Tip Line:
812.752.7898
Scottsburg Police Dept. Tip Line:
812.752.2333
Meth Hot Line:
800.453.4756
Marijuana Hot Line:
888.873.1694
Clark County Sheriff's Tip Line:
812.820.2276
