Boards murder trial moved to Anderson City Court

Yahoo

13-05-2025

ANDERSON — The trial of the man charged with the 2022 shooting death of Elwood police officer Noah Shahnavaz will be moved to Anderson City Court.
Carl Roy Webb Boards II is scheduled to go on trial in January on charges including murder. He faces a possible death sentence.
After initially denying a request from the Madison County Prosecutor's Office, Madison Circuit Court Division 3 Judge Andrew Hopper decided Friday to move the trial to city court.
In the motion, Chief Deputy Prosecutor Andrew Hanna noted the trial could take from three to six weeks.
The motion states that Anderson City Court seats about 120, compared to 38 in the circuit courtroom, and notes that city court has three secure holding cells, compared to none in the courthouse.
Hanna said city court could accommodate the legals staffs involved in the case and provide additional room for court proceedings.
He believes that more than two alternates will be selected for the trial. The jury box of Circuit Court can seat only 14, while the city court jury box could be arranged for more than 14 people, he said.
Boards was moved in April from the Miami County Correctional Facility to the more secure Westville Correctional Facility after, reportedly, stabbing a prison guard. No charges had been filed in Miami County as of Monday.
Anderson City Court Judge Jason Jamerson said Monday that discussions about moving the trial from the Madison County Government Center had been ongoing.
'I'm willing to do what I can to help,' Jamerson said. 'For security purposes, the city court is a better place to have the trial.'
Jamerson said details on how city court will operate during the Boards trial remain to be finalized.
'We will still have the essential services. I will work with county officials. There are hearing rooms available at the courthouse. There are a lot of reasons it makes sense,' Jamerson said of moving the Boards trial.
Jury selection from Delaware County is scheduled to start Jan. 12, 2026, and the trial is set to continue Jan. 26, 2026.
Boards is charged with murder in the July 31, 2022, fatal shooting of Shahnavaz.
According to police, just after 2 o'clock that morning, Shahnavaz stopped a 2012 Buick LaCrosse near Indiana 37 and County Road 1100 North, and Boards, who had been driving the car, shot the officer.
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 found 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.
Boards then surrendered without further incident.