The trial for former Greensburg Police Officer David Scudder was set to begin Monday, however, special circumstances have postponed his day in court. Decatur County Circuit Judge John Westhafer had orginially began the trial, but made a request for a special judge to be assigned to the case because he “was quite familar with” Scudder and didn’t want any possibility of accusations of impropriety to cloud the case. The request was accepted by Judge Carl Taul of Ripley County Circuit Court. This was a natural move, Westhafer noted, because Ripley County Prosecutor Rick Hertel is already handling the case.
The special circumstances postponed the proceedings set for Monday. A pre-trial conference is set for 10 a.m. Feb. 2 in the Ripley County Courthouse in Versailles. The conference will be held to ensure Scudder has counsel and he understands the charges against him, according to an employee in the office of the Ripley County Circuit Court. Westhafer originally assigned Mark Jones of Batesville to represent Scudder, who claimed he could not afford an attorney, when he intially charged the former officer in September.
Scudder faces two charges - theft and official misconduct, both Class D felonies - allegedly stemming from a June investigation into a phony Steve Austin and his promoter taking money for bogus autographs. Scudder is accused of taking $154 from the promoter while he was in uniform and never placing the money in evidence as part of the investigation. He resigned from the department shortly after the Indiana State Police began its investigation into the matter.
Westhafer said moving the proceedings to another location under these special circumstances is not unheard of and helps the judge accomodate the case to his schedule. While it is still a Decatur County criminal case, all of the proceedings and pre-trial hearings can be held outside the county. The trial can be held there as well if all parties agree, he noted.
Additional information was provided by Joe Hornaday.
News
Scudder Trial Postponed, Moved To Ripley County
- News
-
-
Week for Wishes ends optimistically
Down the road a bit from the multitude of Relay for Life fundraising activities taking place at the Decatur County Fairgrounds, the local chapter of the Make a Wish Foundation hosted a variety of fun events all their own.
-
Relay touts big numbers
Hundreds of area residents gathered at the Decatur County Fairgrounds over the weekend, each doing his or her part to take a stand against cancer.
-
"Kindy 500" a fun fest for all
There were no engines to start Thursday afternoon, and the racing "track" offered significantly less space and ground to cover compared to a certain race being staged this Sunday, but that did nothing to dampen the spirit among students as they participated in the 1st "Kindy 500" at Greensburg's Good Shepherd Academy.
-
School's out!
The children of Greensburg Elementary School were more than happy to mug for the camera en route to boarding the school buses that would soon ferry them on to summer vacation Monday afternoon.
-
FSA reminds producers to file Annual Report of Acreage
Julia A. Wickard, State Executive Director of USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Indiana today reminded producers to submit their annual report of acreage to their local FSA county office to meet FSA program eligibility requirements.
-
Surviving Decatur County's storm season
In an interview last September, meteorologist and Greensburg native Brian Schoettmer with the National Weather Service (NWS) in Louisville, Ky., told the Daily News that early-through-mid-spring and late fall tend to be the busiest and most dangerous times of the year for tornadoes and other severe weather in the Ohio Valley region.
-
Strawberry Festival date announced
The Decatur County United Fund's annual Strawberry Festival is set for Friday, June 1, on the south side of the courthouse square.
-
GoGreensburg silent auction
An autographed hat and photo card, complete with authentication papers, will be up for bids at a silent auction Monday.
-
Running Clinic ready to take off
Children planning to spend the early portion of their summer in a brisk jog may find the upcoming Decatur County Youth Running Clinic much to their liking.
-
Man held after assaulting police
A Greensburg man is in the custody of the Decatur County Jail following a drug-induced assault on police Thursday night.
- More News Headlines
-
Serial Stabbings Suspect Guilty of Murder
Facebook Shares Continue Negative Slide
8 Hurt in Oklahoma Shooting After NBA Playoff
US Airways: Diverted Flight Has 'Landed Safely'
A Few Odd Business Sparks but Europe Gloomy
Revived Focus on Regulation After JPMorgan Loss
Gerard Butler: the Good, the Bad and the Cannes
At Least 25 Dead in India Train Collision
Raw Video: Private Rocket Blasts Off
Boy to Rescuers: 'Do You Have a Plan?'
Doctors and Devotees Debate Barefoot Running
Blacks Seek to Find Their Own Missing
Houston Museum Unveils $85 Million Dinosaur Hall
Chicago Police: 90 Arrested in NATO Protests
Ex-Rutgers Student Gets 30 Days in Webcam Case
Obama Sees Inspiration in Joplin Graduates
Raw Video: Man Saved After Niagara Falls Plunge
NATO: Afghan Exit 'Irreversible'
Catholic Groups Sue Over Contraception Mandate
4 Arrested After Man's Beating at Dodger Stadium
