With no witnesses and no proof of permanent injuries, a man was sentenced to six years in prison after a shooting that injured a Franklin resident and a Columbus resident.
Kyle Husbands, 29, Columbus, pleaded guilty to two counts of battery by means of a deadly weapon and told the court he shot Tyler L. Lucas of Columbus and Cody J. Spencer of Franklin at a Columbus home on Jan. 30, 2016.
When formal charges were filed a year ago, Bartholomew County prosecutor Bill Nash believed he had substantial evidence to charge Husbands with attempted murder. But both victims could not be reached when contacted, Nash said.
In order to convict the defendant of attempted murder, the prosecutor was required to prove that Husbands either intended to kill Spencer when he shot him in the chest or that Spencer suffered permanent or debilitating injuries, and did not prove that, defense attorney Sean Thomasson said.
Since Lucas’ wounds were to the legs, state law limited Nash to only seek a battery charge, the prosecutor said.
Bartholomew County Judge James Worton said there were no aggravating circumstances to consider, such as a previous criminal history. Husbands was ordered to serve six years with the Indiana Department of Correction.
On Jan. 30, Lucas and Spencer intervened in a physical fight between Husbands and a woman. Husbands got back into his car and began to drive away, but then stopped, got out and walked back to the house with a gun. A neighbor told police Husbands swung open a porch door and fired four shots inside the residence before he ran back to his car and drove away.
U.S. immigration authorities will be notified of the sentencing and are expected to decide whether Husbands should be deported back to Trinidad. At the time of the shootings, Husbands’ immigration status was classified as long-term permanent resident.
Police arrest duo after Greenwood burglary
Two people were arrested after police said they stole several video game systems and other items from a Greenwood home.
Deana Smith, 32, New Whiteland, was arrested on charges of burglary, possession of marijuana or hashish, possession of methamphetamine and possession of paraphernalia. Shane Parsley, 37, Indianapolis, was arrested on charges of burglary, theft or receiving of stolen property, possession of marijuana or hashish, driving while suspended and possession of paraphernalia.
A resident in the 500 block of Blue Meadow Drive told police they had left for about two hours Saturday morning. When they returned, they found broken glass on the sidewalk, a shelf knocked over and several holes punched in the walls, the report said.
Police stopped Smith and Parsley in a vehicle in New Whiteland and found a Playstation 3 and Playstation 4, boxes of food, clothes and a basket that were reported stolen from the Greenwood home, according to reports from the Greenwood and New Whiteland police departments. Officers also found drug paraphernalia, marijuana and methamphetamine in the vehicle, the reports said.
Smith, 846 Delbrook Drive, and Parsley, 10 W. Dudley Ave., were arrested and taken to the Johnson County jail.
Smith was held on $9,600 bond. Parsley was held on $10,600 bond.