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Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Ind. Courts - "LaPorte deputy prosecutor shot" [Updated]

Stan Maddux, a NWI Times correspondent, reports today:

LAPORTE | LaPorte County Deputy Prosecutor Jennifer Evans remained hospitalized Tuesday after being shot.

Evans, 34, who in November was elected judge of LaPorte Superior Court 3, was expected to survive, LaPorte County Prosecutor Rob Beckman said.

"My understanding is she will fully recover and it's not life threatening," Beckman said. * * *

LaPorte police directed all questions from the media to Beckman, who would not comment on specifics of the case.

He also would not reveal where Evans had been shot.

Beckman did say he was contacted immediately about Evans, a standard practice involving a representative of the prosecutor's office being alerted right away to any shooting.

Given that Evans is a high ranking official, "I'm at the top of the list automatically," Beckman said.

When pressed for answers, Beckman said, "I will not be commenting on the ongoing investigation at this point."

He also would not disclose if any arrests had been made. * * *

LaPorte Superior Court 3 Judge Paul Baldoni said he and his staff also were stunned by the news.

"We were just in a state of shock. It was like somebody kicked us in the stomach," said Baldoni, who chose not to seek re-election after 32-years on the bench.

Baldoni said Evans had been coming into his office in recent weeks to prepare for assuming his duties.

[Updated at 1:55 PM] An AP story begins:
A LaPorte County deputy prosecutor who was elected as a judge last month accidentally shot herself while handling a gun she didn't think was loaded, her husband said.

Jennifer Evans, 34, was grazed in the head by the shot late Monday at her home, her husband, Stephan, told WNDU-TV on Wednesday. She remained hospitalized, but was expected to return home soon, he said.

Here is the story from WNDU-TV.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on December 24, 2008 10:38 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts