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A Shipshewana man on trial for attempted murder learned his fate Thursday afternoon.
After four hours of deliberation Thursday, a 12-person jury in Kosciusko Circuit Court found Criss Duncan, 45, not guilty of attempted murder.
Duncan was accused of attempted murder for his part in shooting at Milford Town Marshal David Hobbs following the armed robbery of the National City Bank Leesburg Branch May 27, 2003. Duncan and Ralph D. Berkey of Elkhart received their federal court sentences in 2003 for the robbery.
The jury heard testimony from 10 witnesses, including Hobbs and Berkey, Tuesday and Wednesday before hearing closing arguments from the prosecution and the defense Thursday morning. The jury returned the not guilty verdict around 1:40 p.m. Thursday.
After the verdict was read, Judge Rex Reed released Duncan to the custody of the state prison in Terre Haute, where he is serving a 38-year-and-one-month sentence for his role in the Leesburg armed robbery.
Berkey worked with federal and state officials on plea bargains for his roles in both the robbery and the shooting.
