Rashawn Samuels Sentenced to 125 Years for Murder and Criminal Organization Enhancement

O n July 29, 2026, Judge David Happe sentenced Jo'Majze Larry (15 of Anderson) to an aggregate sentence of 100 years to be executed at the Indiana Department of Correction. In June 2026, Larry was found guilty following a joint trial with co-defendant Rashawn Samuels of the following offenses related to the February 2, 2025, shooting death of 26-year-old Dayla Swain outside Sonny Ray's in Anderson: Count I: Murder, a felony; Count II: Attempted Murder, a Level 1 felony; Count III: Conspiracy to Commit Murder, a Level 2 felony; Count IV: Criminal Organization Activity, a Level 5 felony; and Count V: Dangerous Possession of a Firearm, a Class A misdemeanor. Following the jury's verdict, Larry admitted to the Criminal Organization Enhancement. At sentencing, Judge Happe imposed a sentence of 50 years for Murder enhanced by an additional 50 years for the Criminal Organization Enhancement for an aggregate sentence of 100 years to be executed at the Indiana Department of Correction. Under Indiana law, the criminal organization enhancement is designed to address crimes committed by individuals acting as part of an organized criminal enterprise rather than as isolated offenders. Indiana law recognizes that criminal organizations can pose a greater threat to public safety because they coordinate criminal activity, recruit others to participate in crime, and often commit offenses for financial gain or to further the goals of the organization. To seek this enhancement, the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant knowingly or intentionally committed a qualifying offense while acting in association with a criminal organization. A "criminal organization" is generally defined as a group of three or more persons that has as one of its primary purposes the commission of one or more criminal offenses and whose members engage in a pattern of criminal activity. Because the defendant in this case was under the age of 18 at the time the murder was committed, Indiana law provides a unique opportunity to seek judicial review of the sentence after a significant period of incarceration. Under Indiana Code 35-38-1-17(n), an individual sentenced for murder committed while they were a juvenile may file an additional petition for sentence modification without the consent of the prosecuting attorney after serving at least 20 years of the sentence. The 20-year period is based on actual time served and does not include any credit time earned for good behavior or educational programs. It is important to note that this statute does not automatically reduce or shorten the defendant's sentence, nor does it guarantee release after 20 years. Rather, it simply permits the defendant to ask the sentencing court to consider modifying th e sentence. At any such hearing, the prosecutor's office has the opportunity to oppose the request, victims and their families have the right to be notified and heard, and the judge retains complete discretion to grant or deny the petition after considering all relevant facts and circumstances. Larry's co-defendant, Rashawn Samuels, is scheduled to be sentenced on July 30, 2026 where he faces a maximum possible sentence of 176 years. The State's case was presented by Deputy Prosecutors Tyler Piraino and Jesse Miller. The case was investigated by Det. Brett Webb and Det. Cora Garcia of the Anderson Police Department.

On July 28, 2026, Judge Angela Warner Sims sentenced Donavan Harris (20 of Anderson) to a total of 60 years for the 2023 Murder of 15-year-old Jullian Craig. Judge Sims ordered 50 years to be executed at the Indiana Department of Correction followed by 5 years suspended to formal probation and an additional 5 years suspended to informal probation. On June 3, 2026, a Madison County Circuit Court 1 jury found Harris guilty of: Count I: Murder, a felony; Count II: Attempted Armed Robbery, a Level 3 felony; and Count III: Criminal Confinement, a level 3 felony. All three counts merged for the purposes of sentencing. Harris' charges stem from the shooting death of 15-year-old Jullian D. Craig, who was killed during the commission of an attempted armed robbery on November 24, 2023. The evidence presented at trial proved that Craig was armed with a handgun lying in the backseat of a vehicle driven by Harris, when the pair lured a subject into the vehicle with the promise of paying a debt owed. During an altercation inside the vehicle, the victim of the attempted robbery shot and killed Craig in self-defense. Under the doctrine of "Felony Murder", when someone commits or attempts to commit certain serious felonies, such as robbery, and a death results during the commission of that crime, the participants can be held responsible for the death. The law recognizes that some crimes are so inherently dangerous that those who choose to commit them should be held accountable for the foreseeable consequences thereof, including the loss of human life. At trial, the State's case was presented by Deputy Prosecutors Jennifer Haley and Samanthan Green. The case was investigated by Officer Travis Thompson, formerly of the Anderson Police Department, now employed by the Pendleton Police Department. 

On July 27, 2026, Tony Lee Schoettmer (46 of Anderson) was sentenced to 60 years for the 2025 murder of Jim Gaw. On June 24, 2026, Schoettmer pleaded guilty to the following charges: Count I: Murder, a felony; Count II: Murder, a felony; Count III: Robbery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, a Level 2 felony; Count IV: Burglary, a Level 4 felony; Count V: Burglary, a Level 5 felony; Count VI: Theft, a Level 5 felony; Count VII: Theft, a Level 5 felony; Count VIII: Auto Theft, a Level 6 felony; Count IX: Theft, a Class A misdemeanor; and Count X: Invasion of Privacy, a Class A misdemeanor. On July 27, 2026, Judge Angela Warner Sims sentenced Schoettmer to a total sentence of 60 years, of which 50 years will be executed at the Indiana Department of Correction, and 10 years will be suspended to formal probation. The State's case was prosecuted by Deputy Prosecutor Jennifer Haley. The case was investigated by Det. Nolan Schaefer of the Anderson Police Department.

Following a three-day trial, a Madison County Circuit Court I jury found Sean Wheatley (29 of Greenfield) guilty of two counts of Child Molesting, as Level 4 felonies. The jury acquitted Wheatley of a third count of Child Molesting and a charge of Sexual Misconduct with a Minor. Following the jury's verdict, Judge Angela Warner Sims remanded Wheatley into the custody of the Madison County Sheriff's Department and set his sentencing for August 10, 2026 at 10:00 am. Wheatley faces a maximum possible sentence of 24 years. The State's case was presented by Deputy Prosecutor Dan Kopp and Certified Legal Intern Aleyah McCorkle. The case was investigated by Lt. Sean Waterman of the Ingalls Police Department.