Jesse E. Carlin now faces a preliminary slate of charges that, if proven in court, could carry years in prison under Indiana sentencing law.
Indiana law sets the sentencing range for Level 5 felonies. Under Indiana Code § 35-50-2-6, a Level 5 felony conviction can bring one to six years in prison, with an advisory sentence of three years and fines up to $10,000.
Level 6 Felony Sentences
Indiana Code § 35-50-2-7 sets the sentencing range for Level 6 felonies at six months to two and a half years, with an advisory sentence of one year and fines up to $10,000, per Justia Law's summary of the statute.
Indiana law allows domestic battery to be charged as a Level 6 felony when the act results in moderate bodily injury. State law defines that as physical impairment involving substantial pain, according to the Marc Lopez Law Firm.
Indiana Code § 35-42-2-9 defines strangulation as knowingly or intentionally applying pressure to another person's throat or neck, obstructing their nose or mouth, or pressing on their torso to impede normal breathing or blood circulation, per CaseMine. Under Indiana Code § 35-45-2-1, communicating a threat is generally a Class A misdemeanor but can rise to a Level 6 felony if it involves a forcible felony or targets protected individuals or witnesses.
A Prior Richmond Tactical Operation
A K99.1FM report describes a high-risk warrant operation in Richmond.
The report describes a single joint operation in Richmond.
A Statewide Pattern Behind One Local Case
The allegations against Carlin arrive against a sobering statewide backdrop. Indiana ranks fifth highest in the nation for domestic violence prevalence, with 42.5% of women and 27.9% of men in the state reporting experiences of intimate partner violence, according to 2026 data from World Population Review. The Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence recorded 83 domestic violence-related fatalities statewide across 61 separate fatal incidents in 2024.
As in any criminal case, a person is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
