Land moves for dismissal
GREENCASTLE -- A Greencastle man accused of battering his mother last May has filed a motion for release from custody and dismissal of all charges.
Seth Land, 22, is charged in Putnam County Circuit Court with two counts of Class B felony aggravated battery, each punishable by a maximum of 20 years in prison.
Although he is represented by a lawyer, court documents indicated that Land had filed the motion pro se, or without representation.
According to court records, Land's attorney, James Recker, will pursue a defense of mental disease or defect in Land's case.
Land allegedly beat his mother, Sharon Land, so severely that she was taken to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, where she underwent surgery. The incident is alleged to have happened on May 15, 2009.
Police reports said Sharon Land suffered injuries including a severely bruised and torn right eye socket, a swollen left eye, split lips and broken teeth. She also lost an eye.
The alleged assault took place at Sharon Land's home. Police responded to a 911 call and found her lying on her bedroom floor, court documents said. Seth Land admitted to officers at the scene that he and his mother had gotten into a fight.
Police reports said Land had suffered in the past from schizophrenia and other mental illnesses.
A pretrial conference for Land was originally set for July 9, 2009, but both parties notified the court that more discovery time was necessary. Another court date has not yet been set.
Land was formally charged in Putnam County Circuit Court on May 18, 2009.
Per the request of Putnam County Prosecutor Tim Bookwalter, Land's bond was set at $100,000 cash only.
While he was in Putnam County Jail, Land was segregated from other inmates. Because of his past erratic behavior and the amount of care he requires, Judge Matthew Headley accommodated a request by Bookwalter to have Land sent to an Indiana Department of Correction facility to await his next court date.
Land also has several charges pending against him in Wayne County.