Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
A Cromwell man who fired more than 70 rounds at police in May 2004 was sentenced in Kosciusko Circuit Court Wednesday.
Robert James Louden, 42, of 9821 E. Rock-A-Bye Lane, Cromwell, was sentenced to 10 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections for each of three charges; the terms will be served consecutively as part of a plea agreement.
Louden pleaded guilty to three charges of "knowingly or intentionally attempting to kill another human being ... while acting under sudden heat being voluntary manslaughter."
In the courtroom Wednesday morning, Judge Rex Reed told Louden that the plea agreement would be approved, but "I don't want you to think that the court approves in any way of your actions.
"The plea agreement is in the best interest of the state and probably your best interest as well. ... I suspect that upon your own reflection, the conduct was entirely out of balance."
Reed also told Louden that it was important that the officers involved in the incident, Ric Shepherd, Jeff Howie and Cory Morris, approved of the plea agreement as well.
Along with the 10-year sentence, Louden was ordered to pay a $100 fine and court costs. Louden will receive credit for the 400 days he already has spent in the Kosciusko County Jail.
On May 13, 2004, Louden fired about 70 rounds at Kosciusko County sheriff's deputies and Syracuse police officers when police visited his home about a domestic disturbance.
Officers knocked on the door of Louden's trailer, but he refused to answer. As the deputies' cars started to back out of the driveway, Louden began firing at them. The officers took cover behind their cars and radioed for backup from the Syracuse Police Department.
The standoff with Louden lasted more than three hours, but Louden eventually was taken into custody without incident.
In June 2004, Louden informed the court that he intended to plead insanity in the case, and Circuit Court Judge Rex Reed ordered a psychiatric evaluation by the Otis R. Bowen Center in Warsaw.
