Tony Schoettmer Sentenced to 60 Years for Murder
July 27, 2026
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.
Madison County Prosecutor's Office News
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.
On Thursday, July 9, 2026, Judge David Happe sentenced Kyree Craver (19 of Anderson) to a total sentence of 90 years to be executed at the Indiana Department of Correction. Judge Happe imposed a 45 year sentence for Murder enhanced by an additional 45 year sentence for the Criminal Organization Enhancement. Craver was convicted on May 18, 2026, following a five-day trial, of the following offenses: Count 1: Aiding, Inducing, or Causing Murder, a felony; Count 2: Attempted Murder, a Level 1 felony; Count 3: Conspiracy to Commit Murder, a Level 2 felony; Count 4: Dangerous Possession of a Firearm, a Class A misdemeanor; Count 5: Criminal Organization Activity, a Level 5 felony; and Count 6: Criminal Organization Enhancement. Craver's convictions stem from the February 2, 2025, shooting death of 26-year-old Dayla Swain outside of Sonny Ray's in Anderson. The State's case was presented by Deputy Prosecutors Tyler Piraino and Jesse Miller. The case was investigated by Det. Brett Webb of the Anderson Police Department.
On June 29, 2026, following a six-day jury trial, a Madison County Circuit Court 4 jury found joint co-defendants Rashawn Samuels (19 of Anderson) and Jo'Majze Larry (15 of Anderson) guilty of the following offenses related to the February 2, 2025 shooting death of 26-year-old Dayla Swain outside Sonny Ray's in Anderson: Rashawn Samuels: Count I: Aiding, Inducing, or Causing 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; Jo'Majze Larry: 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, both Samuels and Larry admitted to the Criminal Organization Enhancement. Judge David Happe set Larry's sentencing for July 29, 2026 at 9:00 am and Samuels' sentencing for July 30, 2026 at 9:00 am each 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 Tuesday, June 15, 2026, Judge Angela Warner Sims sentenced Douglas White (58) to a sentence of 32 years, to be executed at the Indiana Department of Correction. On April 16, 2026, a Madison County Circuit 1 jury found White guilty of Sexual Misconduct with a Minor, a Level 4 Felony. Thereafter, White pleaded guilty to the Habitual Offender Sentencing Enhancement. Judge Warner Sims imposed the maximum sentence of 12 years for Sexual Misconduct with a Minor and enhanced the sentence by an additional 20 years for the Habitual Offender Sentencing Enhancement. The State’s case was presented by Deputy Prosecutor Jack Slay and Deputy Prosecutor Matt Savage. The case was investigated by Detective Chris Burton of the Anderson Police Department.
On June 3, 2026, a Madison County Circuit Court 1 jury found Donavan Harris (20 of Anderson) 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. Following the jury's verdict, Judge Angela Warner Sims scheduled Harris' sentencing for July 7, 2026, where he faces a maximum possible sentence of 65 years. 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.
