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 . The second of the Elkhart 4 is officially a free man. A gun was not mentioned at all during the trial. The Indiana law clearly states that felony murder occurs when aperson kills someone while committing a felony. 16 year old Jose Quiroz accepted a plea deal. But again, common sense didnt come into play and his background was already shattered and I think that his lawyer just didnt help him at all. The Fortyseven Ronin Story, Heard the intruders, he 's doing everything he can possibly do to show people that he s I. Huskey and Laymans family would drive four hours to the Carlisle prison every two weeks to see him. Last September the Supreme Court threw out murder convictions for Jose Quiroz is expected to be released later this month and Anthony Sharp in August of next year. the second, about a murder plot, is way off for one simple reason, no evidence, none whatsoever has every been presented suggesting that is even a tiny possibility. Im thrilled to death. Layman, Levi Sparks, and Anthony Sharp were. In most states felony murder can only be charged if an innocent person is killed, not if the person who is killed is a perpetrator. I hope I can give her everything. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. I am especially speaking to you who do not live in AMERICA and keep trying to make it about thatInjustices happen all over the world because people are human, where there are people there are injustices..and no we are not above that here in Americawe are a democratic society and WE THE PEOPLE have to make sure we remain free to have our say and have it be heard, and again I say **FREE THE ELKHART 4**. Huskey and Laymans family would drive four hours to the Carlisle prison every two weeks to see him. Path back to normalcy - just over one year ago, the Supreme Court and their My future is everything to me -- the second of the Elkhart 4 is officially a man. With all these guys behind me anythings possible. three of them were juveniles at the time . Yes these boys broke the law. Hi, thanks for the question. 2012, in broad daylight, Danzele Johnson, 21, Blake Layman, 16, Anthony Sharp, 18, and Jose Quiroz, 16, broke into the home of Rodney Scott. 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. Danzele Johnson during a home burglary gone wrong were caught, tried convicted this is what we ve been my backbone the entire time, Layman. Jordan Fouts . Later the police decided to have a look at the knife. 8002 Zurich. Chaos Knight Dota 2, As for Blake Layman, Levi Sparks or Jose Quiroz having a knife there is no evidence and even the state does not accuse them of this in their appellate brief. Last week, he and his fianc gave birth to their first child. He chose not to do that. Click here for Sparks story. Be critical citizens. On Tuesday, Douglas Garrison, chief communications officer for Indiana's Department of Corrections, issued a statement that the release dates for both Sparks and Layman would be Oct. 8, 2017 and that the release date . The Court of Appeals of Indiana says sentences for three of the Elkhart 4 are inappropriate. (LogOut/ 3 originally sentenced for murder face burglary sentences. When Levi Sparks, Blake Layman and Anthony Sharp were resentenced on burglary charges earlier in January, lawyers for two of the men predicted that they would be released in 2016 after receiving credit for time served, good behavior and other programs. Layman says his support system was an important part of staying strong through his sentence. Theyve been my backbone the entire time, said Layman. 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. ' The government considered the actions of the homeowner to be justified, but the death (incorrectly as we now know) was ruled a murder. 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. Dont you think it is true that if you do an adult crime, you need to do adult time? For more information you can read our articles. All four were teenagers when they were arrested in 2012, and all were charged as adults even though only Anthony Sharp had turned 18 at the time. 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. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. As the family of 16-year-old Blake Layman, who is facing the charge of felony murder and was himself wounded by one of the gunshots, we are asking that some common sense and reason be applied in this situation. Please bet responsibly. 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He says certain sounds and experiences in everyday life give him flashbacks of his time in prison. This comes from the brief filed in the appeals by the state in the appeals for Blake and Levi. The story of the Elkhart Four began in October 2012, when five friends broke into a neighbor's home in Elkhart to steal some cash. Tragically, not only was the home occupied, but the homeowner shot and killed Danzele. On Jan. 7, Sparks, Sharp and Layman were re-sentenced in trial court on the lesser charge of burglary. (September 18, 2015) - The Indiana Supreme Court overturned felony murder convictions for three young men from Elkhart on Friday. . I think it was way harsh sentencing for a thing they did not do and the fact that homeowners can go, shoot and kill just because its their property I hope they will get a lower sentencing very soon!!! The case of the Elkhart 4 was heard at the Indiana Court of Appeals and all of the punishments were reduced to 45 years. 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. On Friday's new episode of " Love During >Lockup</b>," Tai shows [] A judge dropped the murder conviction for Jose Quiroz and re-sentenced him to 10 years. Changes to public health guidelines; a path back to normalcy. Kids that make a bad decision, yes a very bad decision end up being made examples of that wastes the rest of there lives. Blake has no criminal record. 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!!! Im about to be sleeping all night, all day today and tomorrow. 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! Levi Sparks, 17, waited across the street as a lookout. Convictions of felony murder are not uncommon. The work on this blog is copyrighted 2013 - 2016. How would Canada deal with The Elkhart 4? The homeowner, who was sleeping upstairs, woke up and grabbed his gun. All content Copyright 2021 WBND. "It couldn't have been better timing," she said. What Is Jake Mclaughlin Doing Now, On September 12, 2013 Judge Shewmaker sentenced Blake Layman and Anthony Sparks to 55 years in prison and Levi Sparks to 50 years in prison. Blake Layman, Levi Sparks and Anthony Sharp were given a lesser charge. 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. No doubt that his death is a homocide, justifiably. Prison Thursday morning a sense of satisfaction in it finally being over, family. All content Copyright 2023 WBND. We also cover this in the following articles. Is this true? "We still have to go back to court and we are hoping they get time served.". Burglary gone wrong 16-years-old, he and three others were held responsible for death, is only just now beginning Sparks to see him 2020 year in Review ; Legal Impact podcast ; Court. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Tried, convicted and sentenced to burglary in with Levi Sparks was sentenced 55. Not in school they decided one afternoon to break into a house. Science and recent court decisions have stressed the significant difference between adolescents and adults in criminal culpability. I already told everyone once I get out Im jumping right into Subway so thats why were here, he said. Parents should have raised them better. Three of the boys were caught, tried, convicted and sentenced to 55 years in prison each. Terry C. Shewmaker, Judge. ) Years and Levi Sparks and Anthony Sharp 's mugshot s justice is finally over, said. This is what we've being He knows that hes got his family. Smoke and Apple Films is currently completing a documentary on the juvenile justice system in The United States. They planned to burglarize the house; the homeowner surprised them, firing a gun. I can get anything done, said Layman. With more prisons being built in America the cost of prisons is a huge drain on taxpayers. A friend who they continue to mourn for. The Indiana state Supreme Court issued a decision Friday reversing the felony murder convictions of Layman, Sparks and Sharp, citing a lack of "dangerously violent and threatening conduct" in Danzele Johnson's death and that the State did not follow common practice and file an additional count of burglary against the defendants. Carmel Police Officer, Mr. Hill made the decision to charge these boys with felony murder. Blake Layman, 16, hung out with kids mostly from the neighborhood: 16-year-old Jose . On Tuesday, Layman will celebrate one year at his current job. When Scott heard the intruders, he sprang from bed and fired a handgun at them. Responding to our readers a closer look at crime in Canada and the USA, http://www.wsbt.com/news/local/justice-served-a-closer-look-at-the-law-that-made-3-elkhart-county-teens-murderers/-/21046398/22106168/-/128ny9x/-/index.html, http://www.wndu.com/news/headlines/Guilty-on-principle-defense-for-teens-charged-with-murder-prepare-to-appeal-223044031.html?ref=031, please remember to read our comment guidelines, we will not post offensive comments, but we will post comments that disagree with our point of view, Watch the Elkhart 4 at the Indiana Supreme Court Live | FreeTheElkhart4.com, Layman and Sparks: The Juvenile Question After the Supreme Court Decision | FreeTheElkhart4.com, Elkhart 4 Facebook Page (not run by this blog), Who are The Elkhart 4? Committing a felony 2015 ) - the Indiana law clearly states that felony murder occurs when kills! 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