Jennings County teen to be tried as adult in rape case

[Artaxerxes II]

In another example against childhood innocence: https://tribtown.com/2025/06/13/jenning ... rape-case/

JENNINGS COUNTY — A Jennings County magistrate judge has ordered a 15-year-old boy accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting a 7-year-old, non-verbal special needs student on a school bus over several weeks to be tried as an adult, characterizing the alleged perpetrator as a “predator” who “is beyond rehabilitation under the juvenile justice system.”

Jennings Circuit Magistrate Judge Christopher Doran on Monday ordered Landon Doty, 15, North Vernon, to be tried as an adult, citing “heinous” conduct and a “repetitive pattern of delinquent acts” captured on the Jennings County School Corp. school bus’s camera “over a period of several weeks,” according to court records made public on Thursday.

“The child is beyond rehabilitation under the juvenile justice system; and it is in the best interest of the safety and welfare of the community that the child stand trial as an adult,” Doran states in his decision to move the case to adult court.

On Thursday, Jennings County prosecutors filed 12 criminal charges against Doty, including two counts of rape when compelled by force, two counts of rape against a mentally disabled individual and two counts of child molesting — all Level 3 felonies.

Doty also is facing four counts of sexual battery — all Level 6 felonies — one count of criminal confinement of an individual younger than 14 — a level 5 felony — and one misdemeanor count of public indecency.

Doty was booked into the Jennings County Jail on Tuesday and was being held without bond. A probable cause affidavit filed in Jennings Circuit Court alleges North Vernon police were dispatched to Jennings County Middle School at 820 W. Walnut St. in North Vernon on April 17 regarding “an unknown issue at the school’s transportation building.”When the officers arrived, the school’s principal allegedly showed them video from the school bus’ camera that was taken after school the day before as the students were on their way home, the probable cause affidavit states.

The probable cause affidavit describes the alleged sexual assault and includes investigators describing incidents of oral sex and rape.

At one point, the bus monitor allegedly walked over to Doty and asked what was going on. The bus monitor then allegedly told the bus driver to pull over and “stated that the bus video needs to be reviewed.” The students were then separated.

The bus monitor and driver were not named in the probable cause affidavit.

Doty was allegedly taken from class and his guardian, his maternal grandmother, was called to come to the school. She allegedly said her brother would come because she was in Indianapolis.

When her brother arrived, the principal allegedly advised “an incident took place and is being handled by the police department.”

Doty was placed into handcuffs and escorted inside a patrol car. Once the officer got into the car, Doty allegedly said, “I’m basically screwed,” according to information in the probable cause affidavit.
At the time of his arrest, Doty was living with his maternal grandparents, who became his legal guardians in 2023, according to court records.
Doty’s father, Jerry Doty, was arrested in January 2023 for possession of a narcotic drug and public intoxication. He also was arrested in June 2023 for auto theft and possession of methamphetamine. His mother is deceased.

The judge’s order states the victim suffers from moderate to severe autism and is non-verbal. The order also states Landon Doty is allegedly of “normal intelligence” and is not a special needs student, raising questions about why he was repeatedly allowed to ride the special needs school bus, according to court documents.

It also is not clear in the court documents how Landon Doty was able to repeatedly hide the alleged conduct from the bus monitor and driver.

“The alleged delinquent’s crimes were perpetrated on the victim over a period of several weeks while he was riding the schools bus to and from school, establishing a repetitive pattern of delinquent acts,” Doran states in his order. “The alleged delinquent’s conduct was captured on video cameras on the bus. … The alleged delinquent’s criminal conduct appears to be calculated, indicating that he knew what he was doing was wrong. It appears in the videos that he would stop his criminal conduct anytime he thought someone may observe him, then continue his criminal conduct when he felt safe to continue without detection.”

The judge’s decision also quotes, juvenile probation officer Andy Judd, who allegedly recommended Landon Doty be tried as an adult, stating that “the alleged conduct he observed is the worst he has seen during his 39-year career.”

As of Friday, the case was pending in Jennings Circuit Court.

[Outis]

I don't understand that. Yes it sounds like a terrible thing but how can he be tried as an adult at 15? That implies that he has the mental functionality of an adult.

[Officerkrupke]

I don't understand that. Yes it sounds like a terrible thing but how can he be tried as an adult at 15? That implies that he has the mental functionality of an adult.

Yep, he can be criminally responsible but still a child legally in all other respects?? Make it make sense.