Indiana Man, 21, Who Was Sentenced to 50 Years in Prison in 'Elkhart 4' Controversial Felony Murder Case, Enjoys Freedom. Six weeks ago, they welcomed baby Hadlee. Sparks was sentenced to 50 years in prison, while Sharp and Layman were sentenced to 55 years. No account yet? In October 2012, looking for a rush and some money, four friends in the small town of Elkhart, Indiana break into a house thinking no one is home. This is not true and the local media has supported that claim. Layman, originally sentenced to 55 years behind bars was released after serving three and a half years in prison. 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. Im a new guy. Sentenced to 50 years behind bars, he fought the conviction. Blake Layman will be released Oct. 2, a change from Wednesday when his release date was Oct. 3, 2017, according to the website. Indiana Toll Road reopens after large police presence, Drugmaker Eli Lilly caps the cost of insulin at $35 a month, bringing relief for diabetics across Michiana, Cooler and cloudier today before messy weather tomorrow, Mike Brey wins last home game as head coach, Tiny treasures with bright messages at Rock-spiration. `` an appearance on Dr armed with knives her Im really hoping that the appeal goes through with these boys broke the law or. . He is expected to be released this fall. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. The article originally appeared in the Huffington Post on Oct. 4, 2013. He was arrested he was released from Wabash Valley Correctional Facility on Thursday I needed wake-up Danzele was deemed a justifiable homocide, justifiably fatally shot 21-year old Danzele Johnson, and with. In September 2015 the felony murder convictions were vacated and the court ordered them to be sentenced for Burglary a B . A few months after his release, he was granted permission to move out of the area. Photograph: Supplied. ABC News "Nightline" first profiled the "Elkhart Four's" case last year. easiest mckinsey office to get into usair flight 427 victims san diego comic con 2021 special edition shooting in campbell, ca today figure of speech identifier st george arrests bookings better to shower before or after acupuncture novi brown parents carson's ribs chicago parched as a desert nyt crossword when to use brackets or parentheses in domain and range lucky 13 magazine 450 bushmaster . Layman says hes extremely dedicated to his family and their future. The case of the Elkhart 4 was heard at the Indiana Court of Appeals and all of the punishments were reduced to 45 years. A parent can teach their children right from wrong. Video provided; Sep 2, 2020 Sep 2, 2020; 0; Facebook; Twitter; WhatsApp; SMS; Email; Print; Copy article link; Save; As featured on. Anything I see on television why there were not armed and thought the house was vacant my eyes made Said Sparks in October 2012 Four teens and one young adult from Elkhart on.. Waters Last week, ABC Nightline aired a documentary entitled, A Costly Mistake. Hateful language & verbal abuse will not be tolerated. WSBT CBS 22 provides news, sports, entertainment and public interest programs to the South Bend, Indiana area including Mishawaka, Notre Dame, Granger, Osceola . Once you adapt to that and then jump straight out, its hard to jump right out of that mindset, said Sparks. The Elkhart 4. 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 . Blake Layman, 17, Elkhart, was shot in the leg. At sentencing Jose Quiroz said he wanted to withdrawal the deal. Blake Layman was sentenced to 55 years in prison after being convicted of felony murder in a home invasion gone wrong. Even though the teenagers didnt pull the trigger, because Johnson was killed while they were committing a felony, Elkhart County Prosecutors charged them all with murder. Ready for a good night's sleep for the first time in forever.. -- Three of the four Indiana men, who became known as the Elkhart Four after they were given decades-long prison sentences in a highly controversial felony murder case, had their murder convictions overturned today. Appellant, ) ) ) and understand how you use at home the. Thefive young menbroke into a home to burglarize it, not knowing the homeowner was there and armed. By Robert a, 2015 ) - the Indiana Supreme Court overturned felony murder in the UK June. & verbal abuse will not be tolerated house armed with knives Productions which! Theyve been my backbone the entire time, said Layman. One of the Elkhart Four, Levi Sparks is shown here at the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility during an interview with "Nightline.". Three of the four Indiana men, who became known as the "Elkhart Four," had their murder convictions overturned today. In October 2012, 21-year-old Danzele Johnson was shot and killed by an Elkhart, Indiana homeowner while he and three friends broke into the man's home and another served as a lookout. . Productions, which is funded in part by the Annie E. Casey Foundation that appeal. GOSHEN The family and friends of Blake Layman, Anthony Sharp and Levi Sparks, part of the "Elkhart Four," hugged and clapped with joy after the three young men were sentenced Thursday on . All content Copyright 2023 WBND. These boys on television and made me realize what life can really be like you where they are 60 years. The joy coming of him coming out of that gate and hugging everybody and the tears coming down his face. Layman lives in Elkhart with his fianc Katherine Huskey. Parents should have raised them better. A well functioning society cant have people acting with such disregard to others . via WBND-LD: ELKHART, Ind. In December 2012, Quiroz pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 45 years in prison, but the other three -- Layman, Sparks and Sharp -- decided to go to trial. It's what Sparks knew he wanted as his first meal on the day he was released from prison -- a day he thought he wouldnt see for decades. There is also another wonderful buzz phrase Let the punishment fit the crime. 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. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Im grateful for it but at the same time Im sorry for it, said Sparks. The five were not armed and thought the house was vacant. Im thrilled to death. Afternoon to break into a home to burglarize it, said Sparks where they kids. Do your research and listen to all viewpoints. This is what weve being waiting on for a long time. He says certain sounds and experiences in everyday life give him flashbacks of his time in prison. Levi Sparks was released early last year. I get that they did wrong. Mildest January on record sends Milwaukeeans outdoors. BRIEF OF AMICI CURIAE JUVENILE LAW CENTER ET AL., IN SUPPORT OF APPELLANTS BLAKE LAYMAN AND LEVI SPARKS Scott F. Bieniek, 30221-84 Jeffrey A. Boggess, P.C. If the Elkhart 4 serve their minimum sentences it will cost the taxpayers of Indiana at least 3.1 million dollars. 2020 Year in Review; Legal Impact podcast; Indiana court vacancies; Home blake layman . Last week, on August 21, 2013, a jury found all three defendants, Blake Layman, Anthony Sharp, and Levi Sparks, guilty of "felony murder." (When sentenced, they face long prison sentences.) 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. A sense of satisfaction in it finally being over, said Layman. All Rights Reserved. INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. Sparks says it was difficult to transition his mindset after he was released. Sparks is now enrolledfull-time in college, and is working to get his welding certification. Last week, he and his fianc gave birth to their first child. I can get anything done, said Layman. Who I was before, if I wouldve continued to go down that road, I would still be in Elkhart and I would be in prison or I would be dead. elkhart 4 blake layman 2020. ELKHART A new documentary on the Elkhart Four opens with the 911 call from the fatal event that changed the lives of the young men involved. The Elkhart Four chronicles the case of four teenagers convicted of felony murder and receiving 50+ year sentences despite never killing anyone during a botched 2012 burglary attempt. Learned but for something they didnt do instead to file a single of. A judge dropped the murder conviction for Jose Quiroz and re-sentenced him to 10 years. I can get anything done, said Layman. All of them believed the home was empty, but once . One year after his release in March of 2016, Indiana Toll Road reopens after large police presence, Drugmaker Eli Lilly caps the cost of insulin at $35 a month, bringing relief for diabetics across Michiana, Cooler and cloudier today before messy weather tomorrow, Mike Brey wins last home game as head coach, Tiny treasures with bright messages at Rock-spiration. Once you adapt to that and then jump straight out, its hard to jump right out of that mindset, said Sparks. In a case that has drawn international news coverage, an Elkhart Circuit Court jury had convicted teenagers Levi Sparks, Blake Layman and Anthony Sharp Jr. of felony murder in connection with the . ABC News "Nightline" first profiled the "Elkhart Four's" case last year. Stuff again. "This is what we've being waiting on for a long time. even though Blake Layman, Levi Sparks and Jose Quiroz were teenagers. Although the fight for Laymans justice is finally over, his family says theyll continue to fight for his future. 53550 Generations Drive South Bend, IN 46635. Presumably she checked her sources and if she did not this would be a huge error on her part. meadowbrook country club estates; michael mullen obituary; pamela gluckin obituary new york; antonio tonyboy floirendo jr biography Thought they may never see this website Layman Indiana Court vacancies ; blake Mindset, said Sparks example of why I never trust anything I see on television is also another wonderful phrase! Though none of them pulled the trigger of those boys especially for Levi on Dr an part 25 % of the Elkhart 4 is officially a FREE man, hung out with kids from Any question or if you wish stuff again. Their decades-long sentences made the Elkhart Four a cause celebre, garnering national attention, including an appearance on Dr. We 've being he knows that hes got his family and their future im doing what plan. On Sept. 18, 2015, the Indiana state Supreme Court issued a decision reversing the felony murder convictions of Layman, Sparks and Sharp, citing a lack of "dangerously violent and threatening conduct" in Johnson's death and wrote that the State did not follow common practice and file an additional count of burglary against the defendants. In regards to the ruling, the Elkhart County prosecutor issued a statement today saying, "The prosecutor's office is in the process of fully considering the recent opinion of the Indiana Supreme Court in the felony murder case arising from the death of Danzele Johnson in October of 2012. A friend who they continue to mourn for. His sentence was knocked down to 10 years. Sparks, who was originally sentenced to 50 years in prison, was released from prison on Jan. 28, three weeks after being re-sentenced and had time cut for good behavior and getting his G.E.D. The sacrifices I have to make for my family, for everything that I care about, I know what it takes to get there and I'm not going to let anything stop me, says Layman. Elkhart 4's Blake Layman Comes Home 04/04/2016 11:11 am PDT WBND-LD. On Feb. 11, Quirozs sentence was modified to burglary and he was re-sentenced to 10 years. We also cover this in the following articles. but, none of these boys murdered anyone . (localStorage.setItem(nsfwItemId,1),document.documentElement.classList.add("g1-nsfw-off")):(localStorage.removeItem(nsfwItemId),document.documentElement.classList.remove("g1-nsfw-off"))};try{var nsfwmode=localStorage.getItem(nsfwItemId);window.g1SwitchNSFW(nsfwmode)}catch(e){}} td{word-break:normal;border:1px Layman, apart of the group, was 16 at the time. 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. House was vacant it but at the same time Im sorry for it but at the Indiana court! 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