BEDFORD – The jury trial of Joseph Thomas ended in a mistrial Wednesday.
On Wednesday, March 13, Chief Deputy Prosecutor Joshua Scherschel, Deputy Prosecutor Sarah Cummings, and Thomas and his counsel, Daniel Dixon, appeared in court for the second day of the jury trial.
Lawrence County Superior Court I Judge John Plummer swore the jury in to begin hearing testimony, and preliminary instructions were read aloud on the record.
The jury then heard opening statements.
A hearing was then held outside the presence of the Jury,
Defense attorney Daniel Dixon moved for a mistrial. Judge Plummer heard arguments from both sides.
Judge Plummer then granted a mistrial.
“The court declared a mistrial,’ said Chief Prosecutor Joshua Scherschel. “The state intends to try this case again at the earliest date available.”
The Court set this matter for a final pretrial conference on April 24, 2024, at 9:00 a.m.
Indiana State Police arrested then 34-year-old Joseph Thomas, of Bedford, in July 2020 on two felony counts of incest, 15 felony counts of child molestation, and two felony counts of criminal confinement. Since his arrest, seven counts of child molestation were dropped.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by ISP Detective Stacy Brown, on May 19, 2020, police were alerted by the Department of Child Services that a 15-year-old female was a victim of repeated sexual assault by her uncle. The girl said she also witnessed Thomas assault her sister.
