Milsap trial: Guilty of bribing witness, in larger plot that led to attempted murder of judge
Jury spent 6½ hours to deliver a guilty verdict Wednesday in the first case tied to an alleged plot that led to the attempted murder of Judge Steve Meyer
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MILSAP TRIAL: GUILTY OF BRIBING WITNESS IN LARGER PLOT TO SCUTTLE TRIAL
A jury took 6½ hours Wednesday to find Amanda Milsap guilty of bribery and two other offenses tied to a phone call to offer a victim in a domestic violence case against her ex-husband, Thomas Moss, $10,000 to not testify in his trial.
The three-day trial, including a day to seat a jury of Tippecanoe County residents, was the first case in what prosecutors have laid out as a larger alleged plot that included the bribery attempt, followed by unfinished plans to kill the witness and eventually led to the Jan. 18 attempted murder of Tippecanoe County Superior Court 2 Judge Steve Meyer and his wife, Kim Meyer, at their Lafayette home.
Milsap, 45, a Lafayette mental health therapist, walked out of the Tippecanoe Circuit Court courtroom after the verdict with friends and family members telling her they loved her and to keep her chin up.
“I love you all, too,” Milsap said as she was escorted out. “Thank you being here and for all your support.”
Judge Lisa Swaim – a Cass County Superior Court judge assigned to the case and four others with ties to the alleged plot to scuttle Moss’ original trial – set sentencing for April 27.
The bribery conviction could bring as much as six years in prison. The other counts – a felony charge of obstruction of justice and a misdemeanor charge of invasion of privacy – have penalties of up to 2½ years and one year of incarceration, respectively.
Swaim ordered Milsap be held without bond until her sentencing. Milsap already had been held in Tippecanoe County Jail since her arrest in January on a combination of $500,000 cash and $1 million surety bonds.
Milsap did not take the stand Wednesday morning – a move that wasn’t clear until the day started.
Earl McCoy, Milsap’s attorney, told Swaim the decision came after “lengthy conversations” with Milsap Tuesday afternoon, after the prosecutors rested their case after calling three witnesses and at the end of the first day of testimony. Asked by Swaim whether she agreed with the choice, Milsap nodded.
The defense offered no witnesses during the trial.
About the case: Milsap’s case involved the opening stage of what prosecutors laid out as a larger alleged plot.
