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Wednesday, January 05, 2011

Ind. Decisions - "12-Year-Old in Indiana Gets 25-Year Sentence"

Another Indiana law story this week goes national. Ashby Jones of the WSJ Law Blog has this lengthy entry, followed by reader comments, on the sentencing this week of a 12-year-old Kosciusko County boy. The entry begins:

A 12-year-old helps commit a heinous murder. He confesses and states his remorse.

What should his sentence be?

An Indiana judge on Tuesday thought a 25-year prison term was the way to go.

The Sentencing Law Blog also picked up the story in this entry, and also has many readers comments.

Both base their coverage on this lengthy unsigned story from Fort Wayne's WANE. Kosciusko Circuit Judge Rex Reed handed down the sentence.

Here is the long story today from the Kosciusko County Times-Union, reported by John DeGroff. It begins:

Paul Henry Gingerich, 12, was sentenced in Circuit Court by Judge Rex Reed to serve 30 years for his part in the April 20, 2010 murder of Phillip A. Danner.

Gingerich was initially charged with murder, aiding and abetting murder, and conspiracy to commit murder.

Through a plea deal, the charges of murder and aiding and abetting were dropped, and Gingerich pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit murder, a class A felony. The sentence was reduced to 25 years with 5 years probation.

Reed also stipulated that Gingerich will serve his sentence as part of a program in Indiana prisons known as Youth Incarcerated as an Adult.

Youth offenders in this program have no contact with adult prison populations, and are provided schooling and other programs designed for them. Reed further stipulated that Gingerich will continue in the program past his 18th birthday. A fine of $100 was also levied.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on January 5, 2011 02:13 PM
Posted to Ind. Trial Ct. Decisions