Latest news with #CarrieLayton
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Fifth suspect in armed robbery scheme sentenced
GOSHEN — The last of five young adults accused of carrying out an armed robbery scheme in September has been sentenced. Kaleb Goodwin, 18, received a total sentence of 20 years, with six years suspended, after pleading guilty to two counts of armed robbery. He was sentenced Thursday in Elkhart County Circuit Court after entering a plea agreement in April. Goodwin was charged with the Level 3 felony along with Issac Duckworth, 18, Alora Layton, 18, Carrie Layton, 20, and E'Marri Redmond, 19. All have been sentenced on plea agreements after this week's hearing. The five suspects were arrested after a man and a woman came to the Elkhart Police Department to report that they had just been robbed. They said they came to Carrie Layton's apartment and were approached by armed men wearing masks, who struck them and took some personal belongings. 'Armed robbery is a very, very serious crime, it's a very personal crime,' Judge Michael Christofeno told Goodwin. 'In particular, your two victims were traumatized. This went way beyond you placing them in fear.' The victims said the masked men opened the doors to their vehicle and one of them put a knife to the woman's knee before moving it up to her ribs. He also struck the woman three times with the extended magazine that was in his pistol, according to police. The woman said the robbers took her knife and possibly something from the center console, while the man said they took a vape pen and a wallet that contained cash, a bank card and Social Security cards belonging to him and his son. The woman suffered headaches, trouble sleeping and possibly seizures as a result of her head injury, according to Elkhart County Deputy Prosecutor Kathleen Claeys. She said she believed Goodwin was remorseful and noted that he and his codefendants were very forthcoming when speaking with law enforcement about the crime. Police arrested the five suspects after viewing security footage from River Run Apartments and searching the residence where Carrie Layton and her mother lived. Police questioned the five suspects and learned that they came up with the robbery plot together while sitting in Carrie Layton's bedroom. 'This is your first felony conviction, but as I told your codefendants, you picked a whopper of a first felony,' Christofeno said. 'The only way this could have gone worse is if somebody pulled the trigger, and one of your victims or your codefendants ended up being shot.' Goodwin's attorney, Michael Banik, told the court he had made good use of his time while being held in the juvenile detention facility in Logansport. He said Goodwin sought substance abuse treatment and earned a high school diploma and a welding certificate. Goodwin told the judge he wants to continue his treatment and improve himself. 'Wherever I end up going, I want to make myself a better man,' he said.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Yahoo
Fourth of five robbery suspects sentenced in court
GOSHEN — The fourth of five suspects in a September robbery has been sentenced on a plea agreement. Issac Duckworth, 18, received a total sentence of 20 years Thursday in Elkhart County Circuit Court after pleading guilty to two counts of armed robbery. He was one of five people charged in connection with a scheme to lure two victims to a central Elkhart apartment where they stole their valuables at gunpoint. Duckworth was arrested following the Sept. 13 incident along with Alora Layton, 18, Carrie Layton, 20, E'Marri Redmond, 19, and Kaleb Goodwin, 17. The two sisters and Redmond have entered admissions and received similar prison terms in recent weeks, while Goodwin is set for trial on May 19. Duckworth's sentence includes consecutive 10-year prison terms, with a total of six years suspended to probation. He entered the plea on Feb. 20. The five suspects were arrested after a man and a woman came to the Elkhart Police Department to report that they had just been robbed. They said they came to Carrie Layton's apartment on her invitation and were approached by armed men wearing masks. The men opened the doors to their vehicle and one of them put a knife to the woman's knee before moving it up to her ribs. He also struck the woman three times with the extended magazine that was in his pistol, according to police. The woman said the robbers took her knife and possibly something from the center console, while the man said they took a vape pen and a wallet that contained cash, a bank card and Social Security cards belonging to him and his son. Police arrested the five suspects after viewing security footage from River Run Apartments and searching the residence where Carrie Layton and her mother live. Police questioned the five suspects and learned that they came up with the robbery plot together while sitting in Carrie Layton's bedroom. Elkhart County Deputy Prosecutor Don Pitzer described the group as coming up with the scheme while getting high on marijuana. 'They decide to put guns to people's heads for 30 bucks and a couple vapes,' he said in court. According to Duckworth's attorney, Warren Murphy, he only reluctantly went along with the robbery. 'He wishes he had never done this and had simply stayed in bed,' Murphy told the judge. Duckworth said he cooperated because he didn't want to look weak. 'I apologize to the court and to the victim for this incident. It's nothing I could take back,' he said. 'I didn't want to look scared in front of other people. ... I wish I took another route.' Judge Michael Christofeno said the victims were not only injured in the robbery but also experienced a fear that will probably linger. He characterized robbery as a very personal crime. 'The crime you chose to commit for your first adult offense is a whopper,' he said. 'I believe you're remorseful. The problem is, you can't undo this crime. I don't know if you and your codefendants realize it, but you can't undo this.'
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Yahoo
Another of the 5 suspects in robbery scheme pleads guilty
GOSHEN — Four of five suspects in a September robbery have admitted to their roles in the scheme. Issac Duckworth, 18, pleaded guilty to two counts of armed robbery Thursday in Elkhart County Circuit Court. He was one of five people accused of plotting to lure two victims to a central Elkhart apartment, where they stole valuables including cash, a bank card and Social Security documents at gunpoint. Duckworth was arrested following the Sept. 13 incident along with Alora Layton, 18, Carrie Layton, 20, E'Marri Redmond, 19, and Kaleb Goodwin, 17. Duckworth entered his plea agreement ahead of a jury trial set for March 3. He acknowledged in court that he threatened the victims into handing over their valuables while he was armed with a handgun. The victims told police they arrived at a Middlebury Street address after agreeing to help their friend Carrie Layton move. Alora and Carrie Layton entered their own admissions on Feb. 6 along with Redmond. All three are now awaiting sentencing on March 6. Goodwin is being held in the Logansport Juvenile Correctional Facility where he is awaiting a May 19 trial. Duckworth's plea agreement sets a seven-year cap on actual prison time for each count of robbery. The crime is a Level 3 felony, which is punishable by up to 16 years in prison. Any prison time that the court may give beyond the seven-year cap must be suspended. At his sentencing, which was set for March 20, Duckworth can argue for whether the time he receives for the two counts is served concurrently or consecutively. The five suspects were arrested after a man and a woman came to the Elkhart Police Department to report a robbery that had just occurred. They said that Carrie Layton, a friend of theirs, had asked them over Facebook messenger to help her move furniture. After the victims arrived and messaged Carrie Layton, they were approached by armed men wearing dark clothing and masks, they told police. There was also a female suspect nearby who never approached the vehicle. The men opened the rear side door and the driver's door, and one of them retrieved a folding knife from the driver's side door. He allegedly put the knife to the woman's knee before moving it up to her ribs. He also struck the woman three times with the extended magazine that was in his pistol, according to police. The woman said the robbers took her knife and possibly something from the center console, while the man said they took a vape pen and a wallet that contained cash, a bank card and his and his son's Social Security cards. Police viewed security footage from River Run Apartments which they said showed three men and a woman leave the building and approach the victims' car. Police also located Carrie Layton and her mother and obtained a warrant to search their apartment. During the search, police said they found Duckworth hiding inside a kitchen cabinet with two handguns in his pockets. Both had magazines inserted, one of which had an extended capacity. Duckworth, who was 17 years old at the time of the robbery, was initially taken to the juvenile detention center after his arrest. Police said they found some of the victims' belongings underneath the dresser in Carrie Layton's bedroom and found THC vape cartridges and ammunition in Alora Layton's bedroom. Police questioned the five suspects and learned that they came up with the robbery scheme together while sitting in Carrie Layton's bedroom.
