Judge orders psychological evaluation

Mar. 14—GOSHEN — Dominique Edwards, a man accused of attempting to kill his own father, was appointed a third psychological evaluation by Elkhart County Circuit Judge Michael Christofeno during Circuit Court Thursday.

Edwards is accused of shooting and injuring his father, Anthony Shaw, while at Shaw's home along the 1600 block of Stevens Avenue in Elkhart on the night of Nov. 20, 2020 according to his charging affidavit. He faces charges of attempted murder, a Level 1 felony, and two misdemeanor counts of resisting law enforcement.

While visiting the home, witnesses said Edwards grabbed a pillow, went to Shaw's bedroom and fired a gun through the pillow at him, the affidavit reads. Prior to the shooting, witnesses described Edwards as acting strangely and possibly being on drugs, the affidavit reads.

Shaw, who was shot in the leg and abdomen, told police Edwards said something to the effect of, "Sorry, pops, but I have to kill you," before he opened fire, according to details in the probable cause affidavit in the case.

Another man at the house told police, according to the affidavit, he then tackled Edwards, knocking the gun out of his hand. The man said he fought Edwards and chased him out of the house, according to the affidavit.

Edwards was located and arrested in December 2020 after an Elkhart officer was dispatched to the 1600 block of Morehouse Avenue to investigate a report of suspicious activity, the affidavit shows.

The evaluation will determine sanity.

Edwards' trial status conference is scheduled for Oct. 10. Edwards' trial remains scheduled for Nov. 4.

MATTHEW R. THOMPSON

A man charged with murdering his wife in August 2023 learned Thursday that his trial will move forward.

After a second competency evaluation, Public Defender Jeffrey Majerik told Elkhart County Circuit Court Judge Michael Christofeno Thursday that he and Matthew Thompson, 36, are confident with the results, and moving forward with the case.

Thompson is believed responsible for the death of his 27-year-old wife Ciarra Thompson Aug. 18, 2023.

Police were called to 1426 Cone St., Elkhart, at 7:16 p.m. Aug. 19, for a report that Thompson's wife was unconscious, not breathing, and bloodied. According to court documents, Thompson reported that he'd found Ciarra on the kitchen floor and she would not wake up.

Ciarra was already deceased when officers arrived on scene, and Elkhart County Homicide Unit was called in. In the charging affidavit, officers stated they found blood throughout the living room and kitchen of the home, with a large amount saturating the living room couch, and noted that some of it had been cleaned up. Detectives also noted that Ciarra had open wounds on her head and neck.

Speaking to detectives, Thompson admitted that he'd cleaned up some of the blood, but initially denied causing harm to Ciarra, the affidavit reads. He did eventually admit, according to investigators, that Friday, Aug. 18 he'd punched Ciarra numerous times on her head and shook her. After his last punch, the affidavit reads, Ciarra struck her head on the kitchen counter before falling down on the kitchen floor. Thompson told police that Ciarra had been in the same place she'd fallen when he called police.

A trial status conference remains scheduled for April 11, with a trial date of May 6.

ANTHONY W. AMAYA, Jr.

A man accused of robbing the Pizza Hut in Middlebury in February was not lowered Thursday.

The bond for Anthony W. Amaya, Jr. 28, Cromwell, remains at $150,000 corporate surety only.

According to a statement from Middlebury police, Amaya faces preliminary charges of robbery and felon in possession of a firearm.

The charges stem from an armed robbery that was reported at Pizza Hut, 500 Spring Valley Road, Middlebury, Feb. 7. The victim reported being robbed at gunpoint while meeting with a person over a social media marketplace purchase, police stated. The suspect reportedly fled from the area after allegedly displaying a handgun and demanding the victim's property.

Further proceedings are scheduled for April 18.

GERSON A. PORTILLO VALENCIA

A man accused of robbing a gas station in Elkhart had a pretrial conference Thursday.

Gerson A. Portillo Valencia, 25, is accused of holding up a Rebel gas station at 3200 Toledo Road in Elkhart at 6 a.m. Feb. 2.

The man reportedly purchased a few items, but, according to the probable cause affidavit, then told the cashier to give him all the money and threatened her with a gun. He took a total of around $186.

Camera footage showed that the man had entered and left from the northeast side of the building, and the cashier told police he'd been in the day before to buy cigarettes, offering a birth date from a license not issued by the state, and noted his California license plate, which people were able to find on the camera footage, the report reads. Police said they tracked using the Flock system to Benham Avenue south of Third Street in Elkhart.

Officers went to the area and found a similar vehicle behind a home in the 200 block of Middlebury Street with two men inside, the affidavit reads. The gun was reportedly seen on the center console. Police handcuffed Portillo Valencia, and also found the items the cashier said the robbery suspect had purchased. A homeowner said he did not know the men or the vehicle.

Portillo Valencia allegedly admitted the robbery to police. According to the affidavit, he said he didn't go in with the plan, but once he was alone in the store, decided to attempt it because he was low on cash.

A trial status conference is scheduled for Oct. 10, and a jury trial is scheduled for Nov. 4.

Dani Messick is the education and entertainment reporter for The Goshen News. She can be reached at dani.messick@goshennews.com or at 574-538-2065.