Motion Day – Caitlyn L. Ralph pleas to criminal abuse
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By Ralph Dickerson
Lewisport resident Caitlyn L. Ralph entered a plea of guilty during the September 28th motion day proceedings to a charge of criminal abuse-second degree-child 12 or under. After Ralph entered a plea of guilty, the Commonwealth recommended a five-year probated prison sentence. The terms of the probation agreement stipulate Ralph serve 45-days in the Breckinridge County Jail, and afterwards serve 45-days home incarceration with an ankle monitor. The supervised probation period runs for five years.
The case started in January of 2019 when family discovered injuries to her then nine-month-old child. Ralph left her child in the care of her boyfriend when she left for work. According to the criminal complaint, prior to leaving for work Ralph and her boyfriend argued. The complaint says the boyfriend, angry and frustrated, squeezed the child very hard, which caused injury.
The complaint also stated that approximately three weeks earlier Ralph’s boyfriend abandoned the child one afternoon while watching the baby. The court file said the boyfriend went to the gas station and did not return. Ralph’s sister arrived at the apartment to find the baby alone. Due to this incident, in conjunction with the injuries the child suffered, the Hancock County grand jury indicted Ralph on abuse charges.
The Hancock County grand jury charged Ralph with criminal abuse in the first degree-child under 12 years of age, criminal abuse in the second degree-child under 12 years of age, and wanton endangerment in the first degree. The case continued to make its way through the Hancock County court system.
On September 28th, at the Hancock County Judicial Center, Ralph accepted a plea bargain agreement in which she entered a plea of guilty to the criminal abuse second-degree charge. In exchange for her plea of guilty, the Commonwealth dropped the two other charges in the case.
Sandage pleas to burglary
Tell City, Ind. resident Alexandria J. Sandage entered a plea of guilty during the August motion day proceedings at the Hancock County Judicial Center to a charge of burglary in the second degree. The Commonwealth sentenced her to a five-year probated jail sentence. The agreement stipulates five years of supervised probation, plus a 90-day home incarceration sentence with an ankle monitor.
According to the court file in January of 2017 Sandage and an accomplice broke into the homes of Michael Taylor and George and Mary Gibbs and stole various items. The value of the items taken during the break-ins exceeded $500 from each home. The report says law enforcement found Sandage in possession of many of the stolen items.
In May of 2017 the Hancock County grand jury indicted Sandage on several theft and burglary charges. The grand jury charged her with theft by unlawful taking-firearm, theft by unlawful taking-controlled substances under $10,000, two counts of theft by unlawful taking $500 or more, burglary in the first degree and burglary in the second degree.
In August of 2020 the Commonwealth offered Sandage a plea bargain agreement. In exchange for a plea of guilty to the burglary in the second-degree charge the state offered to drop the other charges in the case and to grant her supervised probation. All parties accepted the agreement.
