Criminal Law

Key Takeaways Indiana law sets no filing deadline for murder charges, no matter how many years pass. Level 1 felony rape, involving deadly force or serious injury, also carries no filing deadline. Most felony offenses in Indiana carry a five-year filing window under existing state law today. Concealing evidence connected to a crime or fleeing the state can pause an existing filing deadline. DNA evidence can extend the filing window for certain rape cases beyond…

The terms “protected person hearing” and “child hearsay hearing” refer to the same proceeding — both are names used interchangeably for the hearing conducted under I.C. 35-37-4-6. There is essentially no substantive legal distinction between the two terms; they both describe the statutory mechanism governing the admissibility of out-of-court statements by children and certain other vulnerable individuals in criminal proceedings. See, e.g., L.H. v. State, 878 N.E.2d 425, 428 (Ind. 2007) (where the court referred to this statute as the “protected person” or “child…

Social media influencer Andrew Tate was arrested in Miami, Florida on July 18, 2026.  Along with his brother Tristan, Andrew is detained in federal custody pursuant to extradition action.  This case is facilitated by the federal government of the United States at the request of the Crown Prosecution Service of the United Kingdom.  The Crown Prosecution Service has filed 59 combined charges against Andrew and Tristan Tate, including rape, sexual abuse and human trafficking.  Once…

Key Takeaways Detectives often question your friends, family, or coworkers quietly while building a case. Subpoenas for phone, bank, or employment records often signal an active, confidential investigation. Indiana’s MyCase system shows only already-filed charges, not investigations that remain open. You retain the right to remain silent, even during informal police questioning. Documenting police contact and preserving records helps protect your position during an investigation. A knock at the door from a detective, an unusual…

Key Takeaways Indiana treats unauthorized access to trade secrets or protected data as a Level 6 felony under state law. A Level 6 felony conviction can bring six months to two and one-half years in prison. Fines for a Level 6 felony conviction may reach ten thousand dollars in addition to prison time. Trade secrets, copyrighted works, and trademarks each face distinct forms of theft under Indiana law. Victims can pursue both criminal charges and…

Key Takeaways Indiana’s Romeo and Juliet law is a statutory defense, not a standalone protection. The age of consent in Indiana is 16; conduct involving anyone younger may result in criminal charges. The defense requires the defendant to be under 21 and no more than four years older than the younger party. Force, coercion, drugs, or a position of authority over the younger person eliminates eligibility entirely. Sexual misconduct with a minor is a Level…

One of the most common questions we answer is “hey my kid picked up a case in juvenile court do I need to hire him/her an attorney?”  The answer in most instances is yes and here are the primary reasons why: While a juvenile record is not public it is still viewable to the law enforcement community and can be held against them in the future; Minor offenses many times may be able to avoid…

Key Takeaways Indiana Code 35-44.1-3-1 makes fleeing or resisting a law enforcement officer a Class A misdemeanor. Using a vehicle to flee elevates the offense to a Level 6 felony under Indiana law. Injuries, weapons, or reckless driving during a chase can raise charges to a Level 3 or Level 2 felony. A Level 2 felony conviction carries a fixed prison term of between 10 and 30 years. Several statutory and factual defenses exist depending…