A Morgan County jury has convicted Martinsville man Tyler Murtlow on eight felony counts, including neglect of a dependent resulting in death, after a seven-day trial in Morgan Superior Court 3. The verdicts came down Tuesday in Martinsville, with sentencing set for May 21.
In a Facebook post, the Morgan County Sheriff's Office said jurors found Murtlow guilty of a Level 1 felony, neglect of a dependent resulting in death, as well as possession of child pornography, a Level 5 felony. He was also convicted on several Level 6 felony counts tied to performance before a minor that is harmful to minors, performing sexual conduct in the presence of a minor, and neglect of a dependent. The sheriff's office noted that one count was negated by the jury and confirmed the May 21 sentencing date.
"We want to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our Detectives Division along with the Morgan County Prosecutor’s Office and Morgan County Major Crimes Task Force," the sheriff's post said. Detective Jerry Bertelsen is identified as the lead investigator, and Chief Trial Deputy Prosecutor Michelle Armstrong and Chief Deputy Prosecutor Cassie Mellady are listed as the prosecutors who tried the case.
Charges and trial
The guilty verdicts capped a seven-day jury trial in Morgan Superior Court 3 in Morgan County. Jurors convicted Murtlow on Count 1, neglect of a dependent resulting in death (Level 1); Count 3, possession of child pornography (Level 5); Counts 4 and 6, performance before a minor that is harmful to minors (Level 6); Count 5, performing sexual conduct in the presence of a minor (Level 6); and Counts 7 and 8, neglect of a dependent (Level 6). One additional count was negated by the jury.
Legal penalties
Under Indiana law, as outlined by Justia, a Level 1 felony generally carries a fixed prison term of 20 to 40 years, with a 30-year advisory sentence. Level 5 felonies typically carry 1 to 6 years, and Level 6 felonies usually range from six months to 2.5 years. The actual sentence can be affected by factors such as enhancements, prior convictions, and whether the judge orders concurrent or consecutive terms, all of which will be addressed at the May 21 hearing.
Public court records and the sheriff's announcement are the primary public sources for the verdict and next steps. The court is expected to issue a formal judgment and sentence at the May 21 hearing, and coverage will be updated after filings or the sentencing hearing become public.
