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August 5, 2014 • Headlines
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The new Osgood Public Library board members pictured above are from left Ruth Hughes, Jill Jansing and Marla Simon. SUBMITTED PHOTO |
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This was one of the vehicles involved in the Sunman crash Thursday that resulted in three injuries. SUBMITTED PHOTO |
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With 49 classic cars parked in downtown Versailles, it looked like a scene from 60 years ago, but it was actually this past Saturday when a group of 90 stopped by the Milan ‘54 museum and decided to tour another treasure, the historic Tyson United Methodist Church and nearby Tyson gym. SANDY DAY HOWARD PHOTO |
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Teenager sentenced to 50 years
Mary Mattingly
EDITOR
mmattingly@ripleynews.com
(REPORTED BY LINDA CHANDLER, PUBLISHER)
A 17-year-old will be in prison for 37 years for the role he played in the murder of a Milan woman on Dec. 30, 2012. Daniel Hodge was sentenced by Ripley County Circuit Court Judge Carl Taul on Thursday, July 31, to 50 years incarceration, 13 of those suspended to probation. Hodge pleaded guilty to the charge of burglary of a dwelling resulting in serious bodily injury, a Class A felony, June 27. He, Sean Nichols, 16 years old at the time, and Allison Moore, 23, were charged with the murder of Nancy Hershman. Nichols pleaded guilty earlier, and was sentenced to 50 years. All three lived in Colerain Township at the time, but Hodge was the one with the Ripley County connection.
LINDA CHANDLER PHOTO
Pictured left is Daniel Hodge.
The agreement with Hodge also included that he will cooperate with the state in the prosecution of co-defendant Allison Moore. She is awaiting trial for murder, pending a decision by the Indiana Court of Appeals. Hodge was given the opportunity by the judge to make a statement Thursday, but his attorney, John Watson, spoke for him instead. Watson said the defendant, who is on anxiety medicine, has a hard time expressing himself. (Hodge’s parents were present at the sentencing.) Watson said Hodge has recurring nightmares, and thinks of the crime on a daily basis. He believes he deserves to be in jail. “It’s an offense that no restitution can be made and he experiences remorse every day,” Watson told the court.
Prosecutor Ric Hertel said, “The defendant stated that he is okay with incarceration because the family of Nancy Hershman has to live with this for the rest of their lives.”
Hershman’s daughter and sisters were in court, as they have been for hearings and pre-trial sentencing, and given the chance to speak. Hershman’s daughter Dawn Evans, with tears in her eyes, spoke of her mother as a wonderful, giving person. “She was a woman like no other. There are not enough words to describe her.” Darlene Grace, sister to Hershman, told Hodge her “heart will never be the same from when I got the call in the middle of the night that something was wrong .“ She added she did not see remorse from him, and “it breaks my heart the choices you have made….marijuana, money and fun and games drove you to do this.” And, to the judge, Grace added,” I think there is potential for him, but I do believe he needs punishment.”
In an unusual move, Hershman’s family asked to speak to Hodge in private. Hertel said, “I have never had that happen in my 15 years as a prosecutor.” Hodge has been in the Ripley County jail, but will now go to the Reception Diagnostic Center to determine where he will be incarcerated.
Retail robbery scam hits Batesville
Batesville police are asking the public for help in identifying a woman allegedly involved in a robbery scheme. This scam has been reported in the Cincinnati and Dearborn County areas, but it appeared in Batesville July 24. Authorities say an employee at Dollar General in Batesville on SR 229 received a call from someone posing as a representative from the corporate office Thursday, July 24. The caller said that he would send a woman to the store to pick up the daily deposit, police said. An unidentified woman entered the store later in the day and received a deposit totaling around $2,000 from the same employee that spoke over the phone earlier in the day. The suspect is described as having long black hair past her shoulders and wearing a gray sweatshirt, pink hat and sunglasses.
Investigators are also working with surrounding agencies that have reported similar schemes that have occurred in the tri-state area. Greendale Police reported a similar incident July 28. Anyone who can help identify the suspect is encouraged to contact Batesville Police at 812-934-3131.
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