A. The right to use force and deadly force in Indiana.
Under Indiana’s use of force statute, a person is justified in using reasonable force against another person to protect the person or a third party from what the person believes to be the imminent use of unlawful force. Further, a person is justified in using deadly force and does not have a duty to retreat if the person reasonably believes the use of this level of force is necessary to prevent ... Read More
29
Nov2017
21
Nov2017
Criminal matters are generally thought of in two or three categories: Felonies, Misdemeanors, and Infractions.1 Generally, infractions are offenses that are punishable by a fine but not jail time, such as a speeding or parking ticket. Felonies and misdemeanors are labeled by numbers regarding the level of crime and this letter may indicate the level of punishment assigned to the crime. The most significant issue for a defendant is to wind up with a Felony conviction as this may cause loss ... Read More
12
Sep2017
Other than a firearm and certain other obvious (stun guns) items, the Indiana criminal code does not provide a great deal of guidance on what is a deadly weapon for purposes of the exercise of deadly force. It is pretty obvious why this is the case as virtually any object, used in a skillful way, can cause serious bodily injury or death.
By statute, a “deadly weapon”1 is something that is used, could ordinarily be used or is ... Read More
06
Jul2017
On Monday, the Indiana Court of Appeals decided an important case relating to the gun community and criminal defense; it decided and what is deadly force by a “deadly weapon”. In Indiana, the affirmative defense of self-defense may be raised when a person uses deadly force in response to infliction of serious bodily injury from a “deadly weapon”, a forcible felony or to defend one’s home or curtilage.
There is no definition of a “deadly weapon”. However, its use must be threatened or used in a ... Read More
31
Mar2017
A key tool prosecutors and defense attorneys use to resolve criminal cases is a plea agreement. This is a contract of sorts between the two “parties”, the prosecutor and the defendant, but is not binding upon the court unless it is accepted. Plea agreements ensure the orderly and timely administration of justice by allowing most cases to resolve without a bench (judge) or jury trial (where allowed).
For most defendants, the biggest reason for a plea is to obtain charges being dropped, a ... Read More
17
Feb2017
Each and every day children are “detained”, namely arrested, for juvenile delinquency. In essence, juvenile delinquency is the same as a criminal arrest, except the minor is not deemed to be a person with a criminal charge because they are under age. However, juvenile detentions are a significant legal matter and anecdotal evidence Ciyou & Dixon, P.C. advocates demonstrates parents and their children poorly understand their rights and standard ways to respond to a juvenile delinquency detention. This blog explores the ... Read More
31
Mar2016
Be Informed, Not the Criminal Defendant
By any account, Indiana is unique in its identification with the right to keep and bear arms. For instance, hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers have a License to Carry Handgun. While the need for a license, and in some general sense understanding of the need for training on safe gun handling is widely accepted and understood, there are pervasive myths that attorneys at Ciyou & Dixon see routinely that cause gun owners to be criminally ... Read More
20
Jan2015
In Indiana, there are levels of crimes from misdemeanors to felonies. Indiana recently updated its criminal code to include numbered levels for crimes versus the previous letters (ex. A felony).
Misdemeanors, felonies and the different levels are divided by the severity of the crimes. For example, dealing in cocaine or narcotic drug can be charged as a Level 5 felony through a Level 2 felony, depending on the amount and circumstances1. A Level 6 felony carries a lesser sentence than a Level 1 felony.
But, if you are charged with ... Read More
11
Mar2014
In Indiana, it is unlawful for a serious violent felon, whether convicted in Indiana or another state, to possess a firearm1. However, when applying for a concealed firearms permit, or to purchase a firearm, you may be denied for a myriad of other reasons. Indiana, like most states, are updating their criminal records to online systems, which provide for quicker and more thorough background checks, however, there may be occasions where old criminal records are updated incorrectly. In other cases, ... Read More
13
Feb2014
In 2012 the Indiana Legislature adopted the Alternative Misdemeanor Sentencing Statute, which now provides that certain Class D felony convictions could be reduced to a Class A misdemeanor.1 To seek this relief from the trial court, you must meet the following criteria:
Not be a sex or violent offender
Your class D felony must not have included acts resulting in bodily injury to another person.
Not have been convicted of perjury or official misconduct (under Indiana Code § 35-44-2-1 or § 35-44-1-2).
Three (3) ... Read More
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