Prosecutor: Change of venue not necessary in attempted murder of judge
Plus, missiles launched at Iran. A bunch of reads from the last day of the 2026 Indiana General Assembly session. And more.
Notes on a Saturday morning, as war looms …
PROSECUTOR: CHANGE OF VENUE NOT NECESSARY IN ATTEMPTED MURDER OF JUDGE
The Tippecanoe County prosecutor pushed back Friday against a change of venue request from one of the suspects accused in a plot to shoot Judge Steve Meyer and Kim Meyer at their Lafayette home Jan. 18.
Attorneys for Thomas Moss, 43, of Lafayette, last week asked the court to move his trial for attempted murder and a dozen other charges out of Tippecanoe County, saying he can’t get a fair trial with a local jury due to publicity around the case.
Moss’ attorney, Andrew Baldwin, argued that news about the shooting of a judge had widespread coverage, not just locally but nationally. The motion called the media coverage and social media comments attached to it “far from neutral,” citing references – many pulled from the prosecutor’s probable cause affidavit – of Moss’ alleged role at the center of an alleged scheme investigators say was aimed to stop a trial scheduled to go in Meyer’s Tippecanoe Superior Court 2 a few days later.
“The media has done what the state cannot do at trial – it has tried the defendant on his history,” Baldwin argued in the motion.
Short of moving the trial, Baldwin asked for a jury to be selected from another county.
In a response Friday, the prosecutor argued that while there has been media coverage, it “thus far has been factual in nature and does not demonstrate a community wide bias, editorializing or prejudice to such an extent the defendant cannot obtain a fair trial in Tippecanoe County.” The response argued that the jury selection process could handle sorting out whether potential jurors would be unable to set aside preconceived notions of guilt, “if any such exist.”
The prosecutor’s response also noted that while the request for a change of venue pointed to inflammatory social media comments tied to news articles, Moss’ attorneys didn’t show that those statements came from Tippecanoe County residents and that coverage with national reach “it can be reasonably inferred the commentary would extend beyond a Tippecanoe County jury pool.”
Moss, not accused of being the gunman, is one of four charged with attempted murder, among other charges. Moss had been scheduled to face a trial on Jan. 20, two days after the shooting, on 2024 charges of intimation, domestic battery and unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon. He also faced charges of being an habitual offender.
Two other people have been charged for alleged roles in the crime.
One of those suspects, Amanda Milsap, has indicated through her attorney that she plans to ask for a jury from outside Tippecanoe County when her case on bribery and other charges goes to trial in April. As of Friday, that change of venue request didn’t appear in the court’s online records.
Moss is scheduled for his next hearing Thursday, March 5, in Cass County Superior Court 2, the home courtroom of Cass Superior 2 Judge Lisa Swaim, who was assigned to his case and those of five others charged in connection with the alleged plot.
Four others charged – Raylen Ferguson, a 38-year-old Lexington, Kentucky, man accused of firing a short-barrel shotgun through the Meyers’ door; Nevaeh Bell, 23, of Lafayette, and Blake Smith, 32, of Dayton, both charged with attempted murder for their alleged roles; and Zenada Greer, 61, of Lexington, Kentucky, who was charged with felony counts of assisting a criminal in an attempted murder – have hearings scheduled March 5, too.
THIS AND THAT/OTHER READS …
U.S. and Israel launched military strikes on Iran early Saturday. From the Associated Press: “The U.S. and Israel launched a major attack on Iran on Saturday, and President Donald Trump called on the Iranian public to “seize control of your destiny” by rising up against the Islamic leadership that has ruled the nation since 1979. Some of the first strikes appeared to hit areas around the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and Iranian media reported strikes nationwide. Smoke could be seen rising from the capital. It wasn’t immediately clear whether the 86-year-old leader was in his offices at the time of the strike.” More here: “U.S. and Israel launch a major attack on Iran and Trump urges Iranians to ‘take over your government.’” And here’s Trump’s full statement, delivered via his Truth Social account Saturday morning, after launch of the attacks. Meanwhile, questions swirl about the motivation to strike Iran, outlined here via the New York Times: “As they made their public case for another American military campaign against Iran, President Trump and his aides asserted that Iran had restarted its nuclear program, had enough available nuclear material to build a bomb within days and was developing long-range missiles that will soon be capable of hitting the United States. All three of these claims are either false or unproven.” Read more here: “Trump’s case for striking Iran rests on questionable claims.”
Jerome Adams, former U.S. surgeon general during the first Trump administration and now executive director at Purdue’s Center for Health Enhancement and Learning, was shaking his head over confirmation hearings for Casey Means as the next surgeon general. In an op-ed this week, Adams wrote: “Now the Senate is considering Casey Means for the role. She graduated from Stanford Medical School but left her surgical residency at Oregon Health & Science University shortly before completion. Her medical license went inactive in January 2024, and she acknowledged at her hearing that she currently cannot prescribe medications and has no desire to treat patients. This is not a minor technical issue. The surgeon general is the nation’s ‘top doc’ and a three-star admiral. By policy and long-standing tradition, physicians in the Commissioned Corps must complete residency training and maintain an active, unrestricted license. If confirmed, Means would be responsible for enforcing standards she does not meet herself. Disciplining an officer for a lapsed license while your own remains inactive would erode morale and credibility at the very top — not to mention opening the office up to legal liability.” Read the rest of Adams’ commentary here: “Former surgeon general: The Senate must not approve someone who can’t practice medicine as the nation’s top doctor. The surgeon general is not a wellness influencer.”
Remember the legal battle over a $4 million-plus home between former Purdue football coach Ryan Walters and a local builder? J&C reporter Ron Wilkins had details about a ruling about a house Walters wasn’t around to see built just west of West Lafayette, after getting fired following his second season with the Boilermakers: “Former Purdue coach Ryan Walters wins home lawsuit against builder.”
Congrats to Nick Yeoman, a 2006 Lafayette Jeff grad who got his start with WJEF-Jeff92 radio, who recently moved into a radio anchor seat for NASCAR broadcasts. The move comes after years as part of the crew calling IndyCar races. J&C reporter Sam King marked the moment after Yeomans’ co-anchor start with last weekend’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway: “Lafayette’s Nick Yeoman makes NASCAR anchor debut after years with IndyCar.”
OTHER READS/A STATEHOUSE EDITION …
More Statehouse speed round coverage, as the General Assembly ended its 2026 session Friday.
On a measure that would set of a stadium authority to lure the Chicago Bears to Hammond, via Tom Davies at the Indiana Capital Chronicle: “Indiana’s offer to help build a multi-billion dollar stadium is officially on the table — now it is up to the Chicago Bears to decide whether they will cross the state line. State senators voted 45-4 Thursday to give final legislative approval to the plan for establishing a Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority in Hammond and allowing increased county restaurant, hotel and admission taxes for the project. Gov. Mike Braun signed the measure into law within about an hour of the vote.” Read the rest here: “Indiana lawmakers, governor give final OK to plan trying to lure Bears stadium. Push for Hammond stadium site goes to governor as Illinois Legislature advances its own offer.”
On a bill, sponsored by Rep. Matt Commons, a Williamsport Republican who represents parts of southern and western Tippecanoe County, that would require Purdue and other state universities to background-check foreign students from certain countries who enroll in STEM programs, via Kayla Dwyer at the Indianapolis Star: “That’s just one national-security measure under a broader bill that limits the ability of people or businesses from these foreign adversaries ― namely China, Russia, North Korea or Iran ― from conducting business, buying land or seeking to influence policy-making in Indiana. The Indiana Senate approved the final version of the bill unanimously; the House voted it through by an 82-13 vote. … The bill’s Republican authors argue Indiana cannot rely on the federal government, citing the recent example of an IU researcher who was charged and accused of smuggling E. coli into the United States from China. ‘I would absolutely say our federal government has dropped the ball,’ said Rep. Matt Commons, R-Williamsport and the bill’s author. ‘We have a duty to be more diligent in this.’” Read more: “Why Indiana colleges may soon have to background-check certain foreign students.”
On a bill that will have townships looking to justify their existence, via IndyStar reporter Hayleigh Colombo: “The legislation will eventually result in the state assigning a point system to townships based on objective criteria and will require those that score worse on the point system to merge with other townships or local units of government.” For more: “Lawmakers vote to dissolve hundreds of townships, sending bill to Braun.”
On a measure that bans sleeping on sidewalks and other public ground, via Indiana Capital Chronicle’s Leslie Bonilla Muñiz: “A statewide prohibition on sleeping in public spaces is on the way to Indiana Gov. Mike Braun’s desk, after Senate lawmakers on Thursday narrowly agreed to House changes in a 28-22 vote. The controversial idea — which critics have likened to a ‘criminalization of homelessness’ — died twice during last year’s legislative session before crossing the finish line a year later.” Here’s the rest: “‘Public camping’ ban targeting homelessness heads to governor.”
On a failed, last-minute attempt to resurrect a prohibition on intoxicating and synthetic hemp-derived drugs, via Leslie Bonilla Muñiz at the Indiana Capital Chronicle: “Last-minute attempt to revive hemp drug ban fails in final hours.”
On a bill that would put limits on social media access for children, via Casey Smith with the Indiana Capital Chronicle: “A push to rein in youth social media — renewed in part by recent high-profile online exploitation cases — culminated on the last day of Indiana’s legislative session after the lawmakers in both chambers agreed on final language and sent the bill to Gov. Mike Braun. …The final draft of House Bill 1408, authored by Rep. Jake Teshka, R-North Liberty, clears the way for parental-consent requirements, age-verification mandates and algorithm limits for certain social media platforms used by Hoosiers under 16.” Read more here: “Indiana youth social media crackdown advances to governor’s desk. Parental consent, age estimation and algorithm limits would apply to certain platforms used by Hoosiers under 16.”
On new limits for “low-earning” college degree programs, via the Indianapolis Star: “Under a bill now heading to Gov. Mike Braun, state colleges will have to seek approval from the state higher education commission to keep degree programs that are ‘low earning,’ meaning graduates of those programs earn less than their peers who only graduated from high school.” Here’s more: “Low-earning degrees bill heads to Braun.”
On an effort to corral energy bills, via IndyStar reporter Sophie Hartley: “Gov. Mike Braun signed a dense piece of energy legislation, flush with bipartisan support, into law on Feb. 26 that aims to address the state’s energy affordability crisis. Many Indiana state legislators, lobbyists and consumer advocates hope the bill will bring relief to Hoosiers through both short term fixes and a longer term scheme to restructure how the state regulates electric utilities.” Here’s more: “How Indiana’s new utility law could change your electricity bill.”
On a “bell-to-bell” cell phone ban coming to Indiana’s schools, via Casey Smith at the Indiana Capital Chronicle: “A proposal to keep cellphones out of Hoosier students’ hands for the entire school day is headed to the governor’s desk after clearing its final legislative hurdle Wednesday. … The legislation would require school districts and charter schools across Indiana to adopt policies largely prohibiting student cellphone use from the start of the school day until dismissal. Restrictions apply to common student devices — including cellphones, smartwatches and gaming devices — which schools must either prohibit entirely or require students to keep powered off and inaccessible during the school day. That could mean a student locker or locked device pouches.” Read the rest: “Indiana Senate sends ‘bell-to-bell’ school cellphone ban to governor.”
On a bill that would do more to shield addresses and other personal information of judges, inspired in part by the Jan. 18 shooting of Judge Steve Meyer and Kim Meyer at their Lafayette home, via Marissa Meador at the Indianapolis Star: “Weeks after a Lafayette judge and his wife were shot in their home, Indiana lawmakers approved a package of protections for judges, including curtailing access to their addresses. … Lawmakers shifted into gear after the Jan. 18 shooting of Judge Steve Meyer and his wife — an act of violence police believe was intended to derail an upcoming trial. Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta Rush has repeatedly warned of escalating violence toward the state’s judiciary. The bill allows the Indiana Supreme Court to appoint a marshal and deputies who could provide security at offices, offsite locations and homes.” Read more here: “Indiana judge shooting motivates new judicial safety measures.”
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Pick an issue that the legislature has neglected for years - potholed roads, stagnant teacher salaries, oversized elementary school classrooms, unaffordable day care, Indiana's high costs of health care. The legislature just decided that all of those issues are less urgent and less important than building a football stadium for the profit of Illinois billionaires.
I live in Chicago, but grew up in Indiana and went to Purdue so I started following you because of that connection. I think a lot of people in Chicago and Illinois in general are tired of the Bears' owner yanking everyone around. Let them spend their own money. IN may regret offering to help them.
I was interested in the story about passage of a bill that would mean colleges there have to get rid of programs that are 'low earning', defining them as earning less than those who just graduate from high school. Lots of missing information in that bill: earn less than which HS grad programs? Fast food restaurant workers or union qualified electricians and plumbers? What about people who decide to go into an area such as social work, which may be low earning, depending on the type of job you accept, but has obvious social value? No one thought this through, obviously.