March 13, 2021 at 3:53 a.m.
Boyd trial is moved to October
Boyd trial is moved to October
The trial of a Portland man charged with murder has been moved again.
During a hearing Friday, Jay Circuit Court Judge Brian Hutchison rescheduled the trial for Roger Boyd for Oct. 11 through 14. Boyd is charged with the Sept. 5 murder of James P. Miller, 49, Montpelier.
He also faces a charge of criminal confinement while armed with a deadly weapon, a Level 3 felony.
Boyd’s trial is one of five scheduled in Jay County this year. The first of those is slated to begin Monday as Esther J. Stephen faces a murder charge for the Jan. 12, 2020, shooting of Shea Briar of Portland (see related story).
Boyd’s trial was most recently scheduled to begin Sept. 20. It was originally scheduled for early February, but was delayed until April because Indiana Supreme Court suspended jury trials statewide until March 1 because of the potential spread of COVID-19. It was then moved to September prior to the latest update Friday.
The 35-year-old Boyd, a Portland resident, was arrested shortly after Miller was shot in the early morning hours of Sept. 15 outside the home at 1215 S. Bridge St., Portland. Miller was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police say Boyd, who previously served for both Jay County Sheriff’s Office and Dunkirk Police Department, admitted at the scene to shooting Miller, according to court documents. They say Boyd told them he acted in self defense and that he believed Miller had a weapon. No such weapon was found, court documents show.
Miller’s girlfriend, Nicole L. Burke, was later found in the home’s basement. According to court documents documents, she told police she was standing in the driveway after the shooting and Boyd ordered her into the house and told her to go to the basement.
In Indiana, murder carries a sentence of 45 to 65 years with an advisory sentence of 55 years.
Boyd’s girlfriend Brittney Shewmake, who owned the 1215 S. Bridge St. property at the time of the incident, is charged with criminal confinement, a Level 3 felony, in connection with the incident. (Her trial is scheduled to begin June 10.) Court documents indicate she was inside the house with two children, ages 3 and 5, at the time of the shooting.
During a hearing Friday, Jay Circuit Court Judge Brian Hutchison rescheduled the trial for Roger Boyd for Oct. 11 through 14. Boyd is charged with the Sept. 5 murder of James P. Miller, 49, Montpelier.
He also faces a charge of criminal confinement while armed with a deadly weapon, a Level 3 felony.
Boyd’s trial is one of five scheduled in Jay County this year. The first of those is slated to begin Monday as Esther J. Stephen faces a murder charge for the Jan. 12, 2020, shooting of Shea Briar of Portland (see related story).
Boyd’s trial was most recently scheduled to begin Sept. 20. It was originally scheduled for early February, but was delayed until April because Indiana Supreme Court suspended jury trials statewide until March 1 because of the potential spread of COVID-19. It was then moved to September prior to the latest update Friday.
The 35-year-old Boyd, a Portland resident, was arrested shortly after Miller was shot in the early morning hours of Sept. 15 outside the home at 1215 S. Bridge St., Portland. Miller was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police say Boyd, who previously served for both Jay County Sheriff’s Office and Dunkirk Police Department, admitted at the scene to shooting Miller, according to court documents. They say Boyd told them he acted in self defense and that he believed Miller had a weapon. No such weapon was found, court documents show.
Miller’s girlfriend, Nicole L. Burke, was later found in the home’s basement. According to court documents documents, she told police she was standing in the driveway after the shooting and Boyd ordered her into the house and told her to go to the basement.
In Indiana, murder carries a sentence of 45 to 65 years with an advisory sentence of 55 years.
Boyd’s girlfriend Brittney Shewmake, who owned the 1215 S. Bridge St. property at the time of the incident, is charged with criminal confinement, a Level 3 felony, in connection with the incident. (Her trial is scheduled to begin June 10.) Court documents indicate she was inside the house with two children, ages 3 and 5, at the time of the shooting.
Top Stories
9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit
Chartwells marketing
September 17, 2024 7:36 a.m.
Events
250 X 250 AD