Jennifer L. Barnes
HANCOCK COUNTY — The last of the four county residents arrested and charged with felony neglect from an incident in May 2021 where a young girl nearly died, was sentenced this week.
Jacqueline Lavonne Fogleman, 31; Jennifer L. Barnes, 49; Sheldon Fogleman III, 33; and Annastasia Cole, 29, all from Greenfield, were each originally charged with a Level 3 felony count of neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury, six different Level 6 felony counts of neglect of a dependent, and a Class A misdemeanor count of cruelty to an animal.
According to court records, Barnes, the last defendant to have her case settled, had a sentencing hearing Wednesday, Oct. 19 in Hancock County Superior Court 1.
Her plea agreement stated, Barnes had to plead guilty to a lesser Level 5 felony count of neglect of a dependent and guilty to the cruelty to animal charge, while the other counts were dismissed. Barnes was sentenced to 40 months, 3.3 years, in the Indiana Department of Corrections with all suspended, except for 60 days — 30 days for time served and 30 days for good credit.
Barnes is to take part in the Hancock County Behavioral Court program. However, if any part of the program is violated, the sentence will have to be served, the plea agreement stated.
According to the probable cause affidavit, paramedics were called to the home in the 7000 block of West County Road 100N on May 14, 2021 to assist a female child who had stopped breathing. The girl was on the front porch when medics arrived. She was revived and transported to Riley Hospital for Children. The child, who has severe asthma, was put into another living arrangement at the time. Six other children and a number of pets also were also removed from the home, which investigators discovered was filled with trash and filth. The odor from inside the residence was so strong and the conditions so squalid that investigators had to don hazmat suits to go inside and investigate.
As for the others in the case who were charged, F0gleman III and Cole had their cases finalized in September by Magistrate Cody Coombs in Superior Court 1. They were both sentenced to a Level 5 felony count of neglect of a dependent resulting in serious injury and given 1,215 days (3.3 years) in the Indiana Department of Corrections with all of it suspended pending successful completion of Behavioral Health Court.
They were also sentenced to a Class A misdemeanor count of cruelty to an animal and were given 365 days in the Hancock County Jail with 26 days executed and the remaining time suspended pending successful completion of Behavioral Health Court.
The two sentences are to run concurrent and the remaining six Level 6 felony charges were dismissed. The original Level 3 felony count of neglect was switched to the Level 5 felony as part of the plea deal, court records show.
According to court records, a plea agreement for Jacqueline Lavonne Fogleman was accepted by Coombs in Superior Court 1 in August. The agreement stated Jacqueline Lavonne Fogleman admitted guilt to three of the Level 6 neglect charges. The remaining charges, including the Level 3 felony charge were dismissed as part of the plea deal.
Court records show Jacqueline Lavonne Fogleman received a 12-month sentence, with all of it but 10 days already served, suspended for each of three Level 6 felony crimes with the terms running consecutive.
Jacqueline Lavonne Fogleman is to take part in the Hancock County Behavioral Court program. However, if any part of the program is violated, the sentence will have to be served, the plea agreement stated.
