Man charged with assaulting mother

Monday, May 18, 2009

A Greencastle man was formally charged in Putnam County Circuit Court Monday after allegedly assaulting his mother Friday night.

Seth Matthew Land, 21, was charged with two counts of Class B felony aggravated battery. Land, who currently has Class B felony charges of battery and escape, a Class D felony charge of battery on a police officer and two charges of Class A misdemeanor resisting law enforcement pending against him in Wayne County, sat silently as his charges were read. He did not respond when Judge Matthew Headley asked him if he understood the charges.

"Let the record show that the defendant is sitting there not saying anything," Headley said.

Headley entered not guilty pleas to the charges on Land's behalf. Public defender James Recker was assigned to Land's case, and Headley set a pretrial conference for July 9.

In accordance with a request by Putnam County Prosecutor Tim Bookwalter, Land's bond was set at $100,000 cash only.

A narrative prepared by Greencastle Police Department Officer Randy Seipel said officers responded to a 911 from Sharon Land's home in the 200 block of West Walnut Street about 10:19 p.m. Friday, and found Sharon Land lying on her bedroom floor and that she appeared to have "been severely beaten."

Minutes after the 911 call, several officers joined Seipel at the crime scene.

Seth Land, who police reports said has suffered from schizophrenia and other mental conditions, was at his mother's residence when officers arrived. He told police he and his mother had gotten into a fight. Seth Land "was covered in what appeared to be dried blood," court documents said.

As the investigation continued and Seth Land was taken into custody, he identified himself to officers as "Adolph Hitler." He later told officers he "really lost it this time," police reports said. Seth Land also told officers "that an evil spirit had entered his body."

Sharon Land was taken to Putnam County Hospital via ambulance. According to Seipel's report, "She was covered in blood about her face, chest and arms." He went on to say that "Her right eye socket was severely bruised and torn and it appeared that the eye was actually either crushed or not present. Her left eye socket appeared less severely injured, however, it would not open."

Seipel also noted that Sharon Land's "lips appeared to be busted" and that her "front teeth appeared to be broken."

Sharon Land was transported from PCH to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, where she underwent surgery. Calls to the hospital Monday requesting an update on her condition were not returned.

Sharon Land told Seipel she was in bed when her son attacked her, and that "Seth grabbed her and grabbed for her eyes" using his bare hands.

A witness to the attack told police Seth Land "had been off his medication for approximately two months" and "had recently been freaking out."

Seth Land has been segregated from other inmates during his time at Putnam County Jail. Because of his past erratic behavior and the amount of care he requires, Headley accommodated a request by Bookwalter to have Land sent to the Indiana Department of Correction to await his next court date.