IN - James Chadwell II, 42, arrested after girl 9, found in his home, Lafayette, 19 Apr 2021 #3

[kkdj]

What exactly will be his defense??

I can't imagine! Talk about getting caught red handed!
And very fortunately she's alive and can testify if need be. I hope she's not put on the stand to have to see him tho.

 

[Boxer]

I think that’s standard, leaves the door open for plea deals.

Don't they have 3 strikes in Indiana?
That girl should never have been exposed to a dangerous man like that in the community.
He was arresred for so many things after prison.
He was murdering her and thankngod the police figured it out time.
LPD rocks.

 

[kkdj]

Indiana has the death penalty.
That's a bargaining tool imo.

 

[FrostedGlass]

Sorry for the format. The sentence for F1 is 20-4o years with an advisory sentence of 30. He will have to serve 75% of his sentence.

INDIANA FELONY SENTENCING GUIDELINES CHART
Level Sentence Range (Min. – Max.) Advisory Sentence Potential Fine
Murder 45 years – Death 55 years $0 – $10,000
Level 1 Felony 20 years – 40 years 30 years $0 – $10,000
Level 2 Felony 10 years – 30 years 17.5 yrs $0 – $10,000
Level 3 Felony 3 years – 16 years 9 years $0 – $10,000
Level 4 Felony 2 years – 12 years 6 years $0 – $10,000
Level 5 Felony 1 year – 6 years 3 years $0 – $10,000
Level 6 Felony 6 months – 2.5 years 1 year $0 – $10,000

INDIANA MISDEMEANORS SENTENCING GUIDELINES CHART
Class Sentence Range Potential Fine
Class A Misdemeanor 0 days – 1 year $0 – $5,000
Class B Misdemeanor 0 days – 180 days $0 – $1,000
Class C Misdemeanor 0 days – 60 days $0 – $500

Indiana Criminal Sentencing Guidelines - Avnet Law

 

[Deleted member 229974]

I can't imagine! Talk about getting caught red handed!
And very fortunately she's alive and can testify if need be. I hope she's not put on the stand to have to see him tho.

I believe she could testify privately on a closed circuit television type of thing. Hopefully, anyway.

 

[Deleted member 229974]

Don't they have 3 strikes in Indiana?
That girl should never have been exposed to a dangerous man like that in the community.
He was arresred for so many things after prison.
He was murdering her and thankngod the police figured it out time.
LPD rocks.

IIRC, she lived right next door to him, so she/her family was probably familiar with him. There is an online site called “WatchDog” and you enter your address and it will list the names, photos, and criminal record of local sex offenders in your area. I’ve had it since my kids were young. They still email me updates as to when an offender moves in or out of the area. It is shocking to see how close they are to you. Unfortunately, it only follows sex offenders, but I wish it would list ALL criminals.
Then again, there wouldn’t be any safe place to live.

 

[Deleted member 229974]

Indiana has the death penalty.
That's a bargaining tool imo.

I am always torn about which one is worse for the criminal, life in prison or the death penalty.

 

[Yemelyan]

I believe she could testify privately on a closed circuit television type of thing. Hopefully, anyway.

Hopefully she could, but if Indiana is like some other states, there are a lot of restrictions on when this allowed because of the constitutional principle that the accused be allowed to face the accuser.

Here's an informative article that talks about under what circumstances prosecutors can petition to use CCTV testimony (it is very infrequently granted, apparently): Closed-circuit testimony used first time in child sex abuse trial

Prosecutors and the defense attorney likely remain in negotiation even while the rest of these proceedings continue on.

 

[Yemelyan]

Some non-paywalled info:

No decision yet on James Chadwell's request for a change of venue

The defense argued that national news stories have linked Chadwell to the Delphi Murders of Abigail Williams and Liberty German.
They also said that since the Carroll County Sheriff hasn't cleared Chadwell's name yet it could create bias within a jury locally.

They also argued that because Chadwell's entire criminal record was exposed in a news story out of South Dakota, it will be hard for him to get a fair trial.

The state, who is prosecuting Chadwell, argued that since his jury trial isn't until October 19th members who could be selected for the jury likely won't have any of the coverage fresh in their minds. The defense said if they aren't able to get a change of venue they would like to at least have a test jury.

Judge Steven Meyer is taking the request under advisement, meaning he will decide on whether or not to grant a change of venue at a later date.

 

[Yemelyan]

Also, I'm not sure if this article has been shared in the thread, apologies if so.

This describes how the officers who participated in rescuing the victim in this case were awarded by the Lafayette City Council.

It contains one officer's account of how he was suspicious of JBC the first two times he talked to him that night and then on the third time rescued the victim. It has some details I had not heard before.

Lafayette officers awarded for rescuing child, delivering baby

“It was what he said to me,” Maxwell said, “it was just too unique and not what someone would say to having a 9-year-old girl in their house.”

 

[minazoe]

LE doesn't want one iota of anything leaked on JBC so that he can use it and have an advantage for his defense later down the line. Funny how JBC is the one using Delphi now for his defense..how JBC is attaching himself now...

mOO

 

[Deleted member 229974]

Hopefully she could, but if Indiana is like some other states, there are a lot of restrictions on when this allowed because of the constitutional principle that the accused be allowed to face the accuser.

Here's an informative article that talks about under what circumstances prosecutors can petition to use CCTV testimony (it is very infrequently granted, apparently): Closed-circuit testimony used first time in child sex abuse trial

Prosecutors and the defense attorney likely remain in negotiation even while the rest of these proceedings continue on.

Then they need to update the principles. Today’s society is much different than it was way back when. No way should a child under 16 be forced to look into the eyes of the person who sexually abused, beat, tortured or kidnapped them. They have already been traumatized for the rest of their lives, they don’t need to go back and re-live the horror all over again. IMO

 

[minazoe]

with all the medical evidence, the testimony and him being caught red handed in the middle of committing a murder..I don't think she will testify..seems un-necessary and not in the child's best interest

 

[Deleted member 229974]

LE doesn't want one iota of anything leaked on JBC so that he can use it and have an advantage for his defense later down the line. Funny how JBC is the one using Delphi now for his defense..how JBC is attaching himself now...

mOO

Diabolical.

 

[minazoe]

wonder how it feels sitting in Jail while cops are going through your things?..examining you.. reading all your posts...questioning all your friends...wonder if his family tells him stuff..like yeah those Delphi LE or FBI were here looking through your box of crap in the basement and they took it
..that has to be like game over if you know you are guilty and the day is coming...and now they won't even talk about you in the news???

I bet he is so mad..he wants to milk this...every moment of it..how dare they IGNORE him...!!!

I think they want to nail him to the wall so good that they don't need to make any deals with him on any of his crimes.

mOO

 

[Alethea]

What exactly will be his defense??

I'll say these are not GOOD defenses but he can try insanity or just try to plea and get a lesser sentence claiming childhood sexual abuse or something else sad to try to lessen his responsibility.

But yikes I really can't think of many worse scenarios. He's certainly not going to get out of this IMO

 

[TL4S]

Back when this first happened, there were clues the young victim might be autistic or other special needs. If accurate, would that have a bearing on whether she testifies?

 

[Deleted member 229974]

Also, I'm not sure if this article has been shared in the thread, apologies if so.

This describes how the officers who participated in rescuing the victim in this case were awarded by the Lafayette City Council.

It contains one officer's account of how he was suspicious of JBC the first two times he talked to him that night and then on the third time rescued the victim. It has some details I had not heard before.

Lafayette officers awarded for rescuing child, delivering baby

“It was what he said to me,” Maxwell said, “it was just too unique and not what someone would say to having a 9-year-old girl in their house.”

So what exactly did he say?

 

[Deleted member 229974]

Back when this first happened, there were clues the young victim might be autistic or other special needs. If accurate, would that have a bearing on whether she testifies?

My God. I hate him even more now.

 

[Deleted member 229974]

I'll say these are not GOOD defenses but he can try insanity or just try to plea and get a lesser sentence claiming childhood sexual abuse or something else sad to try to lessen his responsibility.

But yikes I really can't think of many worse scenarios. He's certainly not going to get out of this IMO

His only hope for freedom would be some legal technicality. I’m sure they're dotting every i and crossing every t.