INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ A U.S. attorney says a decision by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that found violations of Indiana's domestic battery statute are violent felonies will help keep victims safe from attackers.
U.S. Attorney Joseph Hogsett said Friday the decision resolves a debate about whether domestic battery in the presence of a child qualifies as a “violent felony.''
The case stems from the conviction of 35-year-old Joseph Johnson of Indianapolis, who was sentenced to 15 years for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Johnson argued he should not have received an enhanced sentence because domestic battery in the presence of a child is not a violent felony. The appeals court ruled in a Feb. 26 decision that domestic battery is properly classified as violent.
