INDIANAPOLIS — The outgoing Mayor of Muncie faces federal corruption charges. An Indianapolis man is being held for a quadruple murder. A priest is charged with sexually abusing a teen.
These are just a few of the high-profile cases that will likely see developments in 2020 as they make their way through the courts.
Here is a sampling.
Outgoing Muncie Mayor faces federal corruption charges
PREVIOUS | Muncie Mayor Dennis Tyler arrested by FBI
Dennis Tyler, the outgoing two-term Mayor of Muncie, was indicted in November on a charge of accepting a $5,000 illegal cash payment after he steered lucrative excavation work to a local contractor. The arrest is part of an on-going investigation by the United States Attorney’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation into illegal payments associated with public works projects in Muncie.
Tyler's trial in federal court is scheduled for May.
April trial set for man charged in four Indianapolis murders
PREVIOUS | April trial scheduled for man charged in four Indianapolis murders
In March of 2015, four people were found shot-to-death inside a house of North Harding Street in Indianapolis. In 2019, police were finally able to make an arrest. Nicholas Dunn's trial is set for April 13 in Marion County Criminal Court.
Amanda Blackburn murder suspect's trial set for July
PREVIOUS | Amanda Blackburn murder suspect Larry Taylor won't get public dollars to hire cellphone experts
In November of 2015, Davey Blackburn discovered his wife, who was pregnant, shot at their Indianapolis home. Amanda Blackburn died two days later. Three arrests were made. Two of the suspects accepted plea deal. Larry Taylor, the accused triggerman, has a July trial date.
Suspects charged in murder of Indianapolis doctor scheduled for trial in January
PREVIOUS | Trial date set for suspects in murder of Indianapolis doctor
Doctor Kevin Rodgers was shot-to-death during a robbery at his northwest side Indianapolis home. Rodgers had a long association with emergency medicine at the IU School of Medicine. Four suspects were eventually arrested. Two of them have pleaded guilty to lesser charges. The primary suspects, Devon Seats and Nehemiah Merriweather, could go on trial as early as January 13.
Suspended Indianapolis priest charged in sexual abuse case
PREVIOUS | Suspended Indianapolis priest charged in sexual abuse case
In October, Reverend David Marcotte, who most recently served as a chaplain at Roncalli High School, was arrested on felony charges stemming from allegations he sexually abused a teenager. His trial in Hamilton County could take place as early as February.
DCS caseworker faces charges in Madison County
PREVIOUS | Governor Holcomb: "Deeply troubled" by charges facing DCS caseworker
In early-December, a caseworker with the Indiana Department of Child Services was charged in the neglect of a four-year-old boy under his supervision. 26-year-old Spencer Day Osborn's trial date has not been set. Governo Holcomb said he was "deeply troubled" by the charges.
IMPD officer faces charges in Shortridge High School incident
PREVIOUS | IMPD officer faces charges in Shortridge High School incident
An Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer was charged in September with Battery and False Reporting in connection with an incident outside Shortridge High School. Robert Lawson allegedly struck a 17-year-old student. He was suspended without pay. Lawson has a court hearing on January 17 at which a trial date could be set.
Trucker faces many charges in I-465 accident that left mother and young daughters dead
PREVIOUS | Trucker faces multiple charges in I-465 accident
Truck driver Bruce Pollard is scheduled to go on trial in Marion County Criminal Court on February 3. Last July, a mother and her young daughters died in an I-465 construction zone when Pollard's truck hit them from behind. Seven people in other vehicles were injured in the fiery crash on the Indianapolis north side.
Jason Brown awaits trial for murder of Southport police officer
PREVIOUS | Jason Brown awaits trial in murder of Southport police officer
Southport Police Lt. Aaron Allan was gunned down on Madison Avenue in 2017. Later that year, then Prosecutor Terry Curry announced he would seek the death penalty in a killing he called "senseless." Attorneys on both sides of the case will meet January 17, possibly to set a trial date.
Key suspect in shooting of two judges has January trial date
PREVIOUS | January trial for alleged triggerman in shooting of two judges
The shooting of two judges from Southern Indiana in downtown Indianapolis last May caught the public's attention like few other cases. 41-year-old Brandon Kaiser is the alleged triggerman in the shootings outside a White Castle near Lucas Oil Stadium. He faces 14 charges and his trial is set for January 13.
