BEDFORD – The jury trial of Cherry Blattert has been postponed. Blattert is facing a Level 5 felony charge of child neglect resulting in bodily injury, two misdemeanor charges of domestic battery, and an invasion of privacy after she violated a court order to stay away from her children.
The three-day trial in Lawrence County Superior Court I, which was to begin on Wednesday, January 17, is now scheduled for July 10-12, with Judge John Plummer III presiding.
A pretrial hearing and deadline for a negotiated plea deal are scheduled for March 9 at 9:00 a.m.
Blattert is represented by Dorothy A. Maryan of Bargersville. Prosecuting the case is Lawrence County Prosecutor Sam Arp.
A Lawrence County Superior Court I jury found her husband, Scott Blattert guilty in May 2023. Judge John Plummer III sentenced Scott Blattert to serve 13 years in prison after being convicted of violently beating his children with industrial glue sticks and a belt.
Cherry Blattert testified during her husband’s trial. She waived her Fifth Amendment rights before testifying – meaning anything she said could be used against her in her criminal trial.
During her husband’s trial, she testified the couple had 11 children. Those children have since been adopted after the parental rights were terminated.
“Religion is very important to us – God is sovereign in all parts of our life,” she said. “He is in control of everything. The Lord is everything. We strictly adhere to the Bible.”
“We are not dealing with Earthly powers but spiritual forces,” she added. “We are both seeking God’s word. Scott is the head of the household, and I respect how he wants to run the home.”
The couple previously attempted to use Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act as a defense in this case, arguing that physical punishment of children is outlined in the Bible in references to the Rod of Correction. This defense was struck down by Lawrence County Superior Court I Judge John Plummer III, a decision which Blattert appealed in the Indiana Court of Appeals. That court ultimately upheld, affirming Judge Plummer’s decision.
