INDIANAPOLIS – Today Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller announced that his office will appeal the December 11 ruling of the Indiana Court of Appeals in the Paul Gingerich case to the Indiana Supreme Court. Gingerich is serving a 25-year-sentence after pleading guilty to an adult charge of conspiracy to commit murder. Today’s filing of a Petition to Transfer means that the state’s highest court will ultimately decide whether to uphold Gingerich’s guilty plea and sentence.

The Attorney General’s Office represents the prosecution in appellate court. Zoeller today issued this statement:

“Balancing the interests of justice when an offender is so young is extremely difficult. In working with prosecutors, my office is concerned about not setting a precedent that would allow violent offenders to back out of their plea agreements after pleading guilty. Mindful of the deceased victim in this tragic case, we respectfully request the Indiana Supreme Court consider this appeal and make the final determination,” Zoeller said.

Gingerich had pleaded guilty to an adult charge of conspiracy to commit murder in the 2010 shooting death of Philip Danner. The Indiana Court of Appeals on December 11 reversed the guilty plea and ordered the case sent back to the Kosciusko County courts; and today was the deadline for the Attorney General to appeal that ruling. The State’s Petition to Transfer means the Court of Appeals’ order will be stayed and Gingerich remains in Department of Correction custody pending a ruling by the Indiana Supreme Court.

NOTE: Attached is a copy of the State’s Petition to Transfer to the Indiana Supreme Court in the case of Paul H. Gingerich v. State of Indiana.

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