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NOT GUILTY: Lawrence County Jury Acquits Defendant in Burglary and Theft Trial
BEDFORD — A Lawrence County jury has returned a verdict of not guilty on all counts in the trial of Martin Dale Robbins, resulting in a full judgment of acquittal in Lawrence Superior Court 1. Robbins, who was originally charged in October 2025, stood trial today, July 10, 2026, facing serious felony and misdemeanor charges. Following deliberations, the jury completely cleared him of all allegations.
Bedford Man Jailed for Battery on Law Enforcement After Allegedly Slapping Officer in Face During Disturbance
A Bedford man with a staggering blood alcohol content was booked into the Lawrence County Jail after he allegedly slapped a police officer in the face during a neighborhood disturbance check. Jobe Sergent, 26, was arrested on the evening of Thursday, July 2, 2026, by the Mitchell Police Department. The Neighborhood Disturbance Call At approximately 8:17 p.m., Mitchell police officers were dispatched to the 400 block of Dale Street following reports of a highly belligerent male throwing objec
Bedford Man Jailed After Allegedly Breaking Into Ex-Girlfriend's Home, Stealing Dog, and Headbutting Officer
A Bedford man faces multiple felony charges after he allegedly broke into his ex-girlfriend's residence to steal her dog and later headbutted a police officer during a high-risk parking lot arrest. Spencer Douglas Tanner, 25, was arrested on Friday, July 3, 2026, by the Lawrence County Sheriff's Department. The Break-In and Stolen Dog The investigation began when a female resident arrived at the sheriff's department to file a theft complaint. She reported that sometime during the previous ni
THE TICKING CLOCK: A Sinking Ship and Shattered Morale Across Lawrence County
The tips are flooding into our inbox, and the devastating reality of the county's health insurance change is hitting a boiling point. Let’s be completely clear: this is a full-blown crisis hitting every single frontline employee who keeps Lawrence County running. From the highway garage and jail staff to courthouse clerks and emergency dispatchers, morale across our county workforce has plummeted to an all-time low. The dedicated people we rely on every day are feeling completely abandoned by l
Court Records Confirm Burglary at Suspended Judge’s Home Leads to Plea Deal
When local media reported on the arrest of a Bedford woman Miranda Lane for burglary and theft in October 2025, the initial story skipped the most critical detail of the entire case: the identity of the victim. While standard reports simply noted a break-in where clothes were stolen and a truck was entered, official court dockets later confirmed that the target of the crime was the private residence of Lawrence Superior Court 1 Judge John M. Plummer III. Because the seated judge was the victim,
COURT DOCKET: Local Man Sentenced to Prison After Violating Probation with New Crime
A Bedford man is headed to the Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) following a consecutive dual ruling in Lawrence Superior Court 1. On July 1, 2026, Pro Tem Judge Robert R. Cline accepted a plea agreement resolving a pending felony charge and a concurrent petition to revoke a suspended sentence for Matthew D. Robbins.
COURT DOCKET: Bedford Man Headed to Prison After Probation Revoked in Burglary Case
A Bedford man is headed to the Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) after having his probation revoked in Lawrence Superior Court 2. On July 2, 2026, Judge Robert R. Cline ordered 1,400 days of Christopher S. Abner’s suspended sentence executed following a violation hearing. His probation has been terminated unsuccessfully. The case tracking highlights the timeline leading to the prison commitment: * The Original Case: The charges stem from an April 2021 incident investigated by the India