Court denies motion to move Boards trial to Anderson City Court

Yahoo

16-04-2025

ANDERSON — A request to move the murder trial of Carl Roy Webb Boards II to the Anderson City Court has been denied.
Boards is charged with the July 2022 shooting death of Elwood police officer Noah Shahnavaz.
He is scheduled to go on trial in January on charges of murder, two counts of resisting law enforcement, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, firearm enhancement, habitual offender, life without parole and the death penalty.
The Madison County Prosecutor's office filed a motion in Madison Circuit Court Division 3 to move the trial to the city court for logistical reasons.
Judge Andrew Hopper denied the request on Tuesday, but said he is considering the motion and will make a determination five to six months before the actual trial date.
In the motion, Chief Deputy Prosecutor Andrew Hanna notes the trial could take three to six weeks.
The motion states seating in the Anderson City Court is approximately 120 for members of the public, as compared to 38 in the courtroom.
Hanna's motion states there are three secure holding cells at the city court and none in the courthouse.
He said the Anderson City Court would be able to accommodate the number of lawyers involved in the case and provide additional room for the necessary court proceedings.
Hanna believes there will be more than two alternates selected for the trial. He noted that the jury box of Circuit Court can only seat 14 people; the city court jury box could be arranged for more than 14 people.
Anderson City Court Judge Jason Jamerson has already agreed to the use of his courtroom and Anderson Police Chief Mike Lee said his department will provide any necessary support during the trial.
Judge Hopper granted a request from the prosecutor's office to review a book being written by Boards since his arrest.
The judge ruled that the prosecutor's office could review one page of the book that didn't violate the attorney-client privilege.
Hopper ruled the state should receive page 35 (B) of the book.
A motion had been filed by deputy prosecutor Jesse Miller for the defense attorneys to compel the turning over of the book.
In Miller's motion, it's noted that Boards was arrested on Aug. 1, 2022 and as early as Aug. 15, during a call from the jail, he indicated that the first chapter of the book had been written.
During that telephone call, Boards said he wrote about meeting his father for the first time as a narrative about 'grown men with daddy issues.'
The motion states that at least four times from Aug. 15, 2022 to Aug. 26, 2022, Boards mentions the book and wanting to sell it for a profit.
Boards was informed in September 2022 by his lawyer that the book cannot be published until after the trial.
His attorneys objected to the request of the prosecutor's office for the book as being 'work product' falling under the attorney/client privilege.
Just after 2 a.m. on July 31, 2022, Shahnavaz stopped a 2012 Buick LaCrosse near the intersection of Indiana 37 and County Road 1100 North. Police have not provided a reason for the traffic stop.
Officers from Elwood and Madison County found the wounded Shahnavaz and administered life-saving measures until medical personnel arrived.
Just after 2:30 a.m., Hamilton County officers located the Buick and attempted a traffic stop. The Buick continued southbound on Indiana 37. Hamilton County sheriff's deputies pursued the Buick and deployed a tire-deflation device near the area of Indiana 37 and 146th Street.