Change of venue eyed in fatal blast

Courts

A 75-year-old man was sentenced Friday in Allen Superior Court to 45 years in prison after being convicted of multiple counts of child molesting.Saturday

DNA on gun brings bank-heist arrest

Three months after a group of men robbed the PNC bank branch on Coventry Lane, one man is in custody and facing federal charges.Friday

Duo confesses to gun shop hold-up

Two Fort Wayne men admitted to robbing a New Haven gun shop, each pleading guilty in U.S. District Court last week to robbery and using a firearm in relation to a crime of violence.Thursday

INDIANAPOLIS – Prosecutors oppose a change of venue for an Indianapolis woman charged in a house explosion that killed a couple living next door.

WRTV-TV reported Monday that Marion County prosecutors contend in a court filing that Monserrate Shirley and her former attorney are responsible for much of the publicity surrounding the case.

Shirley’s new attorney, James Voyles, filed a motion last week arguing she can’t get a fair trial in Indianapolis because of public outrage, bias and amount of media coverage.

Prosecutors acknowledge “widespread publicity” in the case but say much of the publicity surrounding Shirley and her co-defendant boyfriend, Mark Leonard, resulted from their public comments and statements by attorney Randall Cable. Shirley and Leonard face murder, arson and conspiracy charges.

A hearing on the matter has not been scheduled.