The Court of Appeals of Indiana will hear oral argument in Dustin Neff v. State of Indiana on Wednesday, October 7th at 2:30 p.m. in the Wiekamp Hall of Indiana University South Bend.  A panel of Judge Michael P. Barnes, Judge Terry A. Crone, and Judge Cale J. Bradford will hear the case on appeal from Hamilton Superior Court.

The case involves Dustin Neff’s conviction for child solicitation, a Class C felony. Neff, located in Madison County, chatted online with an individual in Georgia posing as a twelve-year-old girl.  After the conversation, Neff drove to an arranged meeting place in Hamilton County to supposedly meet the girl.  On appeal, Neff contends that there is insufficient evidence that he committed the offense as charged and that the State failed to prove venue in Hamilton County.  Arguing for the appellant, Dustin Neff, will be Steven Stoesz, and arguing for the appellee, State of Indiana, will be Karl Scharnberg.

The Court hears oral argument at venues across the state to enable Hoosiers to learn about the judicial branch, and members of the audience are invited to ask questions following the submission of the case about the judicial process in Indiana.  The Court has heard more than 250 oral arguments “on the road” at law schools, colleges, high schools and county courthouses since its centennial in 2000-2001. 

The Court of Appeals of Indiana is the state’s second-highest court.  It reviews appeals from trial court decisions; a decision of the Court of Appeals of Indiana is final unless granted further review by the Indiana Supreme Court.  The majority of appeals filed in Indiana are decided by the Court of Appeals.