Indiana
Judge kicks dispute over same-last-name candidate back to Indiana Election Commission
(INDIANA CAPITAL CHRONICLE) — A judge is sending back to the Indiana Election Commission a dispute over whether one of two women with the last name Wilson can remain on the Republican primary ballot for a state Senate seat.
The legal fight has political significance because of its possible impact on the campaign prospects of Brenda Wilson, a Vigo County Council member who has President Donald Trump’s endorsement against current Sen. Greg Goode of Terre Haute following the senator’s December vote against the Indiana congressional redistricting plan.
Supporters of Brenda Wilson are trying to have Alexandra Wilson removed from the primary ballot, arguing that she’s ineligible because of a 2010 criminal conviction.
The four-member Election Commission split 2-2 during a February hearing on the challenge to Alexandra Wilson’s candidacy, with the tie vote leaving her name on the ballot.
Alexandra Wilson has since had her conviction for resisting law enforcement at the age of 19 expunged by a Vermillion County court.
Putnam County Superior Court Judge Charles Bridges cited that action in an order this week following a court hearing on an appeal of the Election Commission’s action.
“Remand to the Indiana Election Commission is appropriate because circumstances of the case have changed,” the order said. “The Indiana Election Commission has not had an opportunity to consider Wilson’s notice of expungement and whether her candidacy is disqualified in light thereof.”
Prominent conservative attorney Jim Bopp, who is a top political ally of Gov. Mike Braun and is supporting Brenda Wilson, said Friday he had asked the Election Commission to quickly set a new meeting to reconsider the challenge for Alexandra Wilson’s candidacy.
Bopp maintains that Alexandra Wilson’s eligibility should be determined by her status when she filed her candidate paperwork in February.
“At that time, she had been convicted of a felony and was disqualified from being a candidate,” Bopp told the Indiana Capital Chronicle. “The expungement of her felony conviction more than six weeks later is not retroactive and is thus irrelevant.”
Alexandra Wilson’s attorney has argued that she remained eligible since her 2010 guilty plea to a low-level Class D felony charge was accepted by a judge as a Class A misdemeanor.
Attorney General Todd Rokita’s office has argued the same in defending the commission.
An Election Commission meeting had not been announced as of Friday afternoon.
Indiana
Teen seriously injured in Martinsville shooting
MARTINSVILLE, Ind. (WISH) — A teenager was in surgery at an Indianapolis hospital after he was shot during a fight among juveniles Tuesday evening near the historic mineral water sanitarium in Martinsville, police said.
Officer Aubrey Rachels of the Martinsville Police Department told News 8 by phone about 8 p.m. Tuesday that the teen, who is from 13-16 years old, was seriously injured in the shooting just before 5:30 p.m. Tuesday and taken by helicopter to Riley Hospital for Children.
Later, in a news conference just after 9 p.m. Tuesday, Rachels said the teenager injured was from age 13-18. She also said the teenager was stable at the hospital.
Investigators were talking to a possible suspect and witnesses, all who are juveniles, Rachels said. No arrests had been made as of 9 p.m. Tuesday.
Photos showed crime scene tape in the 400 block of North Mulberry Street, just a block west of North Main Street near the Morgan House Apartments, and a block east of the historic Martinsville Sanitarium.
The shooting was believed to have been targeted, and no threat to the community at large exists, Rachels said.
Indiana
Galveston Town Marshal placed on administrative leave
GALVESTON, Ind. (WISH) — A town marshal in Cass County has been placed on administrative leave pending review of a personnel matter.
Galveston Town Marshal Nick Bowyer’s leave became effective on Thursday, March 30.
An attorney for the town declined to comment on the reasons behind the decision.
WRTV Investigates, the investigative team at WISH-TV’s sister station WRTV, filed a records request for more information on the situation.
Records show Bowyer served as:
- Town Council Member: Dec. 13, 2017 – March 29, 2019
- Deputy Marshal: May 13, 2019 – July 20, 2020
- Town Marshal: July 21, 2020 – present
His current compensation rate is $30/hour, records show.
WRTV Investigates asked town attorney Braden Dean about who is taking on Bowyer’s duties, and Dean responded via email, “During the leave period, department operations are being maintained through existing personnel and standard operational procedures.”
Nick Bowyer is also listed as a sergeant with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.
WRTV Investigates talked to Sheriff Ed Schroder, who confirmed Bowyer is still employed there and is not on leave at that agency.
Under Indiana law, government agencies have to disclose the factual basis for any disciplinary action, including suspensions, demotions, or discharges.
“At this time, no final disciplinary action has been taken,” Dean said. “Administrative leave is a non-disciplinary measure, and no findings or conclusions have been reached.”
Indiana State Police tells WRTV they have not received any reports related to the town.
“Consistent with Indiana law, the town is limited in what information may be disclosed while the review is ongoing,” said Dean. “Should any final action occur, the town will comply with applicable public records requirements at that time.”
Indiana
Suspect charged in 4 Indiana homicides from 2002, police say
GARY, Ind. – A man was charged in connection with the killings of at least four people in Gary, Indiana, more than 20 years ago.
What we know:
Edward Russell Jr. was charged in connection with the series of homicides in February 2002, according to the Gary Police Department.
The charges were in connection with the Feb. 9, 2002, killing of Mary Ann Wrencher in the 800 block of Kentucky Street, and the killings of Lenard Johnson, Barbara Hall and Curtis Hall between Feb. 8 and Feb. 12, 2002, in the 800 block of Virginia Street.
Russell was being held in the Lake County Jail, police said.
Gary police said the case was reopened and charged by the Lake County Prosecutor’s Homicide Task Force.
Police did not provide further details, but Fox Chicago has reached out for more information.
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