Nappanee Man Acquitted During Robbery Trial

A Nappanee man was acquitted Tuesday in Kosciusko Circuit Court of robbery causing bodily injury.

Jarett O. Fisher, 25, told the jury during the one-day trial that he stole a mo-ped from William A. Lent, 61, of Nappanee, about 10 years ago, but that he did not rob him of $1,700 in September 1999.

Fisher's attorney, Jay Rigdon of Rockhill Pinnick LLP, Warsaw, summarized the case by saying there were several "convenient coincidences" leading to Lent accusing Fisher of the robbery.

Fisher testified that he saw Lent at a Nappanee bar and approached him to apologize for previous wrongdoings against him. Fisher spent nine months as a teen-ager in Boys School for taking Lent's mo-ped. The two later traveled together to a bonfire and party at Dewart Lake.

Fisher said Lent's response to his apology was, "Aw, that's all right," but the man also told him he was out $1,700 for the loss of the mo-ped.

The first of the coincidences, Rigdon said, was that the amount of cash Lent alleged Fisher took from him the night of Sept. 17, 1999, was $1,700.

"The scooter was Mr. Lent's only means of transportation then," Rigdon said, "and he saw it as an opportunity to get vengeance on Jarett Fisher to make up this story."

Another coincidence, Rigdon said, was that while Lent claimed that Fisher and three other men pulled him from his truck and beat and robbed him at a location near Dewart Lake, there were only photographs available noting injuries to the front of Lent's body.

Three people testified on Fisher's behalf that Lent was injured when he fell from his truck when exiting it at the Dewart Lake party and Rigdon said the injuries pictured were consistent with someone falling forward onto his elbows and knees.

Rigdon said he also found it convenient that the owner of the safety deposit box from which Lent had gotten the money he alleged was stolen from him is now deceased and could not testify as to whether the money even existed.

"I have to tell you here, folks, there's no question that William Lent lied here today," Rigdon told the jury during his closing argument. "I'm sorry if my emotions show through ... (but) put a stop to it. We're done."

The jury, comprising seven women and four men, deliberated about an hour before returning its verdict of not guilty.