Cromwell teen Paul Gingerich appeared in Kosciusko County Circuit Court Friday to appeal his sentence. Gingerich, 18, was 12 when he was sentenced in Circuit Court by Judge Rex Reed to serve 30 years for his part in the April 20, 2010 murder of Phillip A. Danner, Cromwell. Gingerich was initially charged with murder, aiding and abetting murder, and conspiracy to commit murder. Through a plea deal, the charges of murder and aiding and abetting were dropped, and Gingerich pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit murder, a class A felony. The sentence was reduced to 25 years with 5 years probation. Colt Lundy, 20, was also convicted of killing Danner, his stepfather. Lundy was denied his sentence adjustment last month by Judge David Cates. Gingerich is serving his sentence under a new state statute dubbed “Paul’s Law” in legal circles. It allows a judge to sentence a juvenile to serve time in the Indiana Department of Corrections youth services division. It also grants judges the leeway to revisit a juvenile's case after sentencing – even to modify the terms for children showing progress toward rehabilitation. Gingerich’s attorney, Monica Foster, filed a 28-page appeal, according to Kosciusko County court documents. It is not currently determined when the appeal will be decided on.
