Paulino Santiago-Bautista v. State of Indiana

── Paulino Santiago-Bautista v. State of Indiana ── Case No.: 25A-CR-01502 Court: Indiana Court of Appeals Date: February 9, 2026 Author: Judge Stephen Scheele County of Origin: Carroll Category: Criminal Decision: Affirmed Judge Brown and Judge Felix concur On June 10, 2023, fourteen-year-old L.A. was home alone at her family’s farm in Carroll County. Around noon, Santiago-Bautista knocked on the door and L.A. answered. Santiago-Bautista had been an employee at the farm for eleven years and had socialized with the family for birthday parties and similar events. Santiago-Bautista told L.A. he had come to return a tool. She thanked him and closed the door, going back inside. Santiago-Bautista then opened the front door uninvited and walked into the house, asking L.A.