John Walter Downam, Sr. v. State of Indiana

── John Walter Downam, Sr. v. State of Indiana ── Case No.: 22A-CR-00856 Court: Indiana Court of Appeals Date: September 30, 2022 Author: Judge L. Mark Bailey County of Origin: Grant Category: Criminal Decision: Affirmed, Reversed and Remanded Judge Riley and Judge Vaidik concur Siblings E.M. and M.M. were abandoned by their mother when they were aged twelve and eleven, respectively. At that time, their father was in prison. The Indiana Department of Child Services (“DCS”) placed the siblings with their maternal grandmother and her husband, Downam. Within months, E.M. 1 Ind. Code § 35-42-4-3(1). 2 I.C. § 35-42-2-1(e). reported to her DCS caseworker that Downam was physically abusive, and E.M. requested a different placement. Initially, DCS instructed Downam to refrain from using corporal punishment.