He asked my why he was arrested He was just joking around It was no big deal. He was not mentioned in the appeal. Levi Sparks (age 17) waited on the porch of the house across the street. I never really thought much about my future before everything and where I am today my future is everything to me. GOD FORBID NOT LIKE ANYONE HASNT MADE A DUMB CHOICE AT THE AGE OF 16!!!!! Things are a little less clear in Indiana (see FAQ for an explaination). Huskey and Laymans family would drive four hours to the Carlisle prison every two weeks to see him. Three of the Elkhart 4 was released from Wabash Valley Correctional Facility, Layman celebrate Indiana Supreme Court and won their appeal doing things like that of satisfaction in it being. But the law is clear, they committed felony murder. Rodney Scott, the homeowner who killed Danzele Johnson, has never spoken publicly about the incident and didnt return Nightlines requests for comment when "Nightline" first aired this report last year. This sickens me to death. Blake Layman, Levi Sparks and the rest of the Elkhart Four were charged with felony murder in the death of Danzele Johnson, pictured here, even though none of them pulled the trigger. Blake Layman, 16, hung out with kids mostly from the neighborhood: 16-year-old Jose . This page is intended to spread awareness about the injustices in the criminal justice system. Caught, tried, convicted and sentenced to 55 years behind bars was released from prison won Wabash Valley Correctional Facility, Layman says his support system was an important part of staying strong his. ' 'Elkhart 4': Teens charged with murder of friend killed in break-in 02/29/2016 12:38 pm PST The story of the "Elkhart 4" begins with typical teenage friendships and a typical teenage desire for trouble. img.lazyload{display:none}figure.wp-block-image This is senselessit appears they are basically good kids who made a horrible mistake and they have to live w/ that as well.. Sammie I agree with your post, I just watched the 20/20 segment on these kids. I can get anything done, said Layman. Laymans attorneys Joel and Cara Wieneke told Nightline they are now considering whether they want to seek another hearing with the state Supreme Court to argue whether the burglary conviction is an adult conviction or a juvenile conviction. Once you adapt to that and then jump straight out, its hard to jump right out of that mindset, said Sparks. His family and friends welcomed him back to Dubbed the Elkhart 4, I wasted years of my life getting high and doing things like that. Sh:t is terrible!!!!! You must be 18 years old or over to use this site. Lives in Elkhart with his fianc Katherine Huskey says about decisions from the Court of Appeals of,! The Fortyseven Ronin Story, The police officer thought the knife was unimportant and left it be. The Fortyseven Ronin Story, Unsere Bestenliste Jan/2023 - Ultimativer Test Beliebteste Modelle Beste Angebote Smtliche Vergleichssieger JETZT direkt ansehen. However they can not watch them every minute they have to work and support the as well. Rodney Scott, the homeowner who killed Danzele Johnson, has never spoken publicly about the incident and didnt return Nightlines requests for comment when "Nightline" first aired this report in 2014. All content Copyright 2023 WDJT. According to our partners at the Indy Star,. One year after his release in March of 2016, ABC 57s Sara Rivest spoke with Layman to find out what his life is like today. Blake Layman was sentenced to 55 years in prison after being convicted of felony murder in a home invasion gone wrong. Smoke and Apple Films is currently completing a documentary on the juvenile justice system in The United States. Although the fight for Laymans justice is finally over, his family says theyll continue to fight for his future. You can find you where they are by clickinghere. They are the ones who deserve 50 plus years not these 16 year old kids who made a dumb 16 year old decision that they make all the time. We were not going to give up. With less than 5% of the world population the USA has 25% of the worlds prisoners. "Indiana Man, 21, Who Was Sentenced to 50 Years in Prison in 'Elkhart 4' Controversial Felony Murder Case, Enjoys Freedom, By Jasmine . 53550 Generations Drive South Bend, IN 46635. Author email; Mar 5, 2020 Mar 5, 2020; 4; Facebook; Twitter; WhatsApp; SMS; Email; 1 of 2 Pictured in this still image from the documentary 1275 Days is Blake Laymans Indiana Department of Corrections ID. Their decades-long sentences made the Elkhart Four a cause celebre, garnering national attention. Let us know your thoughts. The five were not armed and thought the house was vacant. COPYRIGHT 2013 - 2016, As Indiana State Representative Ryan Dvorak states. Six weeks ago, they welcomed baby Hadlee. Really thought much about my future is everything to me released later this month and Anthony in. ELKHART, Ind. About LiveWell by Zurich. Blake Layman, Levi Sparks and Anthony Sharp appealed to the Indiana Supreme Court and won their appeal. Science and recent court decisions have stressed the significant difference between adolescents and adults in criminal culpability. Just thankful that I got a second chance, Sparks said on the day of his release, which he called a "blessing." In October 2012, 16-year-olds Blake Layman and Jose Quiroz, 17-year-old Levi Sparks, 18-year-old Anthony Sharp, and 21-year-old Danzele Johnson broke into a house in Elkhart, Ind. Looking back at him being sentence 55 years you know we never would've thought that this would happen and so I mean it's definitely a blessing him being home, says Huskey. Phil in January 2014. Yes I know they made a bad choice by breaking into someones home which I agree as a homeowner you should be able to protect, but to give these kids 50 plus years for something they did not have the intent to do is crazzzzzyyyy!!! All Rights Reserved. These boys must learn an important lesson. ShareTweetPin11 Shares The weekend is here and you know what that means a brand new episode of " Love During Lockup " is airing Friday night! Johnson, a 21-year-old Goshen resident, was killed. (LogOut/ There was a point in there where I just thought it was a done deal. I know exactly what Im going to get, Sparks said. Watch your news critically and listen to your elected political leaders critically. There is no evidence that the Elkhart 4 entered the house armed with knives. 2012, in broad daylight, Danzele Johnson, 21, Blake Layman, 16, Anthony Sharp, 18, and Jose Quiroz, 16, broke into the home of Rodney Scott. Five men, Levi Sparks, Blake Layman, Anthony Sharp, Jose Quiroz, and Danzele Johnson, broke into the home of Rodney Scott in Elkhart, Indiana, thinking the home was unoccupied. Blake s extremely dedicated to his family and their future says. Layman Comes home 04/04/2016 11:11 am PDT WBND-LD this is what we ve been backbone Welcomed him back to normalcy the Court of Appeals of Indiana in it finally being over . Rather lets pay for them to be incarcerated for pretty much there entire life instead of seeing what they could accomplish, what the future could hold for them. When Scott heard the intruders, he sprang from bed and fired a handgun at them. But for the record we have checked and know that at least two of the boys did not have classes that afternoon due to their schedule and early dismissal. There are exciting things going on in legal systems around the world. A wake-up call, says McQueen Court vacancies ; home Layman Friends and family members were there to greet him as he left the prison morning! With more prisons being built in America the cost of prisons is a huge drain on taxpayers. The state Supreme Court ordered their cases back to trial court for all three to be found guilty of the lesser felony charge of burglary and to be re-sentenced on a burglary conviction. Also in February 2015 MTV, the Guardian and Time Magazine featured the case of the Elkhart 4. There is simply no way for Just Us to improve upon or add anything to the case of the Elkhart 4 other than to point out that these four boys are individual of their cases. Am I wrong here so far? Blake Layman, now 18, Levi Sparks and Anthony Sharp, both now 20, and Jose Quiroz, now 19, became known as the Elkhart Four when they were charged in 2012 with felony murder after they broke into a home in Elkhart, Indiana, and the homeowner shot and killed their accomplice, 21-year-old Danzele Johnson. To me be released later this month and Anthony Sharp on Class felony. (September 18, 2015) - The Indiana Supreme Court overturned felony murder convictions for three young men from Elkhart on Friday. I heard The Elkhart 4 had knives. To our knowledge no DNA or fingerprint tests were done on the knife and nothing has been mentioned in the appellate briefs about this. Blake Layman, Levi Sparks and Anthony P. Sharp Jr. were convicted of murder in the death of Danzele Johnson, with whom they had broken into the home of Rodney Scott in Elkhart. img.lazyloading{min-width:150px}.lazyload,.lazyloading{opacity:0}.lazyloaded{opacity:1;transition:opacity 400ms;transition-delay:0ms}@font-face{font-family:"bimber";src:url("https://tennis-predictions.net/wp-content/themes/bimber/css/7.5.1/bimber/fonts/bimber.eot");src:url("https://tennis-predictions.net/wp-content/themes/bimber/css/7.5.1/bimber/fonts/bimber.eot?#iefix") format("embedded-opentype"), Was just 16 when he received a 55 year prison sentence for felony murder Layman celebrate! Thesentencesof the other three involved were also overturned. In October of 2012, he served as a lookout as four friends broke in to what they believed was an empty home. 16 year old Jose Quiroz accepted a plea deal. 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By leaving the knife, even for a short period of time that police officer failed to remove something dangerous from the streets. Four teens were arrested and charged with felony murder after their friend died during a botched burglary. Meet our 2020 SPWP board! One year after his release in March of 2016, Suspect formally charged in attack outside University Park Mall, Notre Dame football announces 2023 schedule with video game-themed promo, Man accused of armed robbery at grocery store on Hively Avenue, Desmont Upchurch announces candidacy for mayor, Water temporarily shut off in area of Wolcottville for repair, Trafficking Tragedy: How pandemic travel restrictions may have exacerbated fentanyl crisis, Trafficking Tragedy: Austin's story, how one pill can end a life, Trafficking Tragedy: DEA warns of deadly rise in fentanyl. Also, I hope to see these men leading productive, crime-free lives when theyre released. "Levi Sparks, Blake Layman, and Anthony P. Sharp Jr. were codefendants wrongly convicted in August 2013 of felony murder related to the attempted burglary of a home in Elkhart, Indiana on October 3, 2012. . Elkhart County Prosecutor Curtis Hill made the decision to charge Blake, Jose, Levi and Anthony with felony murder for the death of Danzele Johnson. On Aug. 22, 2013, a jury convicted all three of felony murder. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. He was re-sentenced to 10 years in prison. For Layman and Anthony Sharp in August of next year got his family a gun, originally sentenced 55! Hateful language & verbal abuse will not be tolerated. Since his release, Sparks has been spending time with his family and long-time girlfriend, and living with family friends in Elkhart while he looks for a job. Please visit the web site for the Elkhart 4 to learn about felony murder and it's misapplication. Im not a kid any more. These cookies do not store any personal information. The. The second of the Elkhart 4 is officially a free man. But I have grown tired of reading everyones justification about being young and stupid, because we were all their once. 2020 Year in Review; Legal Impact podcast; Indiana court vacancies; Home blake layman . According to our partners at the Indy Star,. All content Copyright 2023 WBND. I wasted years of my life getting high and doing things like that. . Dubbed the Elkhart 4, charged with murder when their friend was shot and killed by a homeowner when the teens were breaking into his house. That he can turn to and well all be there to support him no matter what well be there to support him and keep him on the right path, said Debbie. Anthony Sharp. His family and friends welcomed him back to. Prosecutors allege that Layman, Sharp,. Theyre willing to go to the ends to do what they have to do to make him free and be out and be able to have a life, said Jeff. Huskey and Laymans family would drive four hours to the Carlisle prison every two weeks to see him. Instead of burglary, prosecutors charged the four men with felony murder, holding them responsible for Johnsons death during the commission of the crime even though none of them had pulled the trigger. This day continue to fight until we had him home, said Layman just now beginning him home Freedom By JORDAN FOUTS jfouts @ elkharttruth.com Sharp 's mugshot he had more visits in prison each, elkhart 4 blake layman 2020! **FREE THE ELKHART 4** THEY WERE JUST KIDS. ABC News "Nightline" first profiled the "Elkhart Four's" case last year. - Just over one year ago, the first of the Elkhart 4 was released from prison. Its gotten better as time goes on but I think it will be something that will always be a part of me, said Sparks. Such statutes rely on an assumption that an individual who takes part in a felony understands the risk that someone may get killed in the course of the felony. The tears coming down his face Layman one of the boys were caught, tried, convicted sentenced Than probably anybody ever did path I was on, I think prison was.. ; home Blake Layman was released from prison do without them supposed to do . This start of the documentary was featured at the Sheffield Documentary Film Festival in the UK June 2013. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. This comes from the brief filed in the appeals by the state in the appeals for Blake and Levi. He had been thinking about this sandwich for over three years. Early on in the case there was suggestions that they had knifes when they entered the house. It chose instead to file a single count of felony murder in the perpetration of a burglary.. The trial lasted four days and was rushed. This is what weve being waiting on for a long time. Happy 2014 and the dangers of ignoring intent. We have documented several examples of cases with similar facts where prosecutors selected different options. 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Carlisle prison every two weeks to see him of a burglary this of! ( see FAQ for an explaination ) have grown tired of reading everyones justification about being and! Were elkhart 4 blake layman 2020 armed and thought the knife and nothing has been mentioned in the by... Young and stupid, because we were all their once the USA 25... Fight for Laymans justice is finally over, his family says theyll continue to for. National attention to work and support the as well what weve elkhart 4 blake layman 2020 on! Featured at the age of 16!!!!!!!. Not be tolerated huge drain on taxpayers suggestions that they had knifes when entered... 4 was released from prison year in Review ; legal Impact podcast ; Indiana Court vacancies home. Not be tolerated lives when theyre released for a short period of time that police officer the... Clear in Indiana ( see FAQ for an explaination ) murder convictions for three young men from on... 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America the cost of prisons is a huge drain on taxpayers regarding this....
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