The Indiana Court of Appeals will hear a traveling oral argument on March 5, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. in the auditorium of Tri-West High School, located at 7883 N. State Road 39, Lizton, Indiana. The event offers students and community members a unique opportunity to observe the appellate process in action.
The case on review stems from a February 5, 2023 incident in Wells County involving a high-speed pursuit. According to court records, Wells County Sheriff’s Deputy Desmond Carter observed a dark-colored sedan traveling toward him at 114 miles per hour. After turning his patrol vehicle around and activating his emergency lights, the deputy pursued the vehicle. The chase ended when the officer encountered an overturned vehicle matching the description of the sedan.
An investigation determined that Benjamin Haines had been driving the vehicle. The State charged Haines with multiple offenses. Following a jury trial, Haines was convicted of:
-
Level 5 felony resisting law enforcement
-
Level 6 felony criminal recklessness
-
Class B misdemeanor leaving the scene of an accident
-
Class B misdemeanor possession of marijuana
-
Class C infraction disregarding a stop sign
-
Class C infraction speeding
The trial court imposed an aggregate sentence of six years of incarceration.
Issues on Appeal
On appeal, Haines challenges both his conviction and sentence. He argues that:
-
The State presented insufficient evidence to support his conviction for Level 5 felony resisting law enforcement.
-
His six-year sentence is inappropriate in light of the nature of the offenses and his character.
The State maintains that the evidence presented at trial was sufficient to sustain the felony resisting conviction and contends that the sentence imposed by the trial court is appropriate.
Appellate Panel
The case will be heard by a three-judge panel consisting of:
-
Judge Cale J. Bradford
-
Judge Robert R. Altice Jr.
-
Judge Peter R. DeBoer
Traveling oral arguments are part of the Court of Appeals’ outreach efforts, allowing students and the public to witness firsthand how appellate courts review legal issues, question attorneys, and interpret the law. Unlike trial proceedings, appellate arguments focus on whether legal errors occurred in the lower court rather than reexamining factual determinations.
Community members interested in attending can view the event in person at the Tri-West High School auditorium or access stream information through the Indiana judiciary’s website.
The March 5 session promises to provide an educational look at how Indiana’s appellate judges evaluate claims of insufficient evidence and sentencing appropriateness in felony cases arising from high-speed pursuits.