« Ind. Courts - Paul Buchanan Jr. dies at 90 [Updated] | Main | Courts - "New Jersey Judge Faces Ethics Charges for DWI Antics With Chapstick and Penny" »

Friday, November 07, 2008

Ind. Courts - "'Salacious' affidavit results in jail time for client Hinds, attorney Denney"

Rick Yencer reports today in the Muncie Star-Press in a very long story that begins:

MUNCIE -- Local attorney Louis Denney and his client, Jeff Hinds, were found in contempt of court and sentenced to 30 days in jail Thursday by Jay Circuit Court Judge Brian Hutchison after Denney filed an affidavit that focused in part of the judge's sexual relationship with his girlfriend and, according to Hutchison, also contained "allegations of criminal conduct" by the judge.

Denney on Monday filed a change-of-judge motion on behalf of Hinds, charged along with local attorney Michael J. "Mick" Alexander with bribery and conspiracy to commit bribery. The Muncie men are accused of bribing a witness to change his testimony in a criminal case against an Alexander client.

Along with the motion, Denney included an affidavit purported to be a transcription of a taped conversation between Hinds and Hutchison's girlfriend, Julie Ashman.

Here, via the Star-Press, is a copy of the Criminal Contempt Order issued by special judge Brian D. Hutchinson, plus an Order Striking Pleading, also issued by Special Judge Hutchinson, ordered that:
the 39 page document entitled "Excerpts from Transcript in Support of Motion for Change of Judge" shall be and is hereby stricken from the record.

The Clerk of the Court is directed to remove the pleading from the public file, but is insructed to retain the pleading in a separate confidential envelope so that it may be accessed for appellate review, if necessary,

Posted by Marcia Oddi on November 7, 2008 08:03 AM
Posted to Ind. Trial Ct. Decisions