Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
With a jury trial set to begin in just over a month, the court-appointed attorney in a pending murder case has pulled out of the matter. New counsel has already been appointed.
R. Steven Hearn has represented Christoval Dimas, 26, of Ligonier, since Dimas' September 2000 indictment in the murder of 22-year-old Crystal Gayle Homister of Elkhart.
Hearn said this morning that he withdrew from the case at Dimas' request. "He wasn't happy with me," Hearn said. "He felt I was on the other side."
Hearn recently announced his Republican candidacy for prosecuting attorney, a four-year position up for election in the May primary. His motion to withdraw from the case was made and approved Wednesday.
Warsaw attorney Michael Miner was appointed by Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Rex Reed to take the reins in the case, and Miner has already made his appearance in the case, noting his acceptance of the appointment. A transport order was entered for Dimas to be brought from the Indiana Department of Corrections facility, where he is being housed, so he can meet with his new attorney.
Miner said this morning he is set to move forward with the case.
"I anticipate full cooperation from both Steve Hearn and Chuck Waggoner to get the information as soon as possible. ... A month should be enough time to assimilate the information."
Miner also is the court-appointed attorney for Jason Fisher of Millersburg, who is being held for the murder of Kathy Vroman, 48, of Milford.
Homister's burned remains were found April 6, 2000, near Lake Wawasee. She was reported missing in Elkhart County on Jan. 7, 2000, by family members concerned with her disappearance. The remains, found by mushroom hunters in a wooded area near Lake Wawasee, were identified as Homister's three days after they were found.
The body was burned sometime prior to the remains being found, and 85 percent to 90 percent was recovered at the scene.
Dimas was set to be tried in September, but the case was continued at Hearn's request. Hearn previously tried to have the charges dismissed because his client hadn't gone to trial within a year of being charged.
Dimas has been in police custody for this and other crimes (in Kosciusko and Noble counties) since before he was indicted for the murder.
Dimas' trial is set to begin Feb. 22 and is expected to take five days, including one full day for jury selection.
