Austin Mendez v. State of Indiana

── Austin Mendez v. State of Indiana ── Case No.: 23A-CR-00121 Court: Indiana Court of Appeals Date: August 24, 2023 Author: Judge Leanna Weissmann County of Origin: Lake Category: Criminal Decision: Affirmed in Part, Remanded in Part Judge Riley and Judge Bradford concur L.L. and Mendez met in 2011 and had a daughter together. Over the next few years, Mendez ceased contact with his daughter and, at least once, battered L.L. severely enough to fracture her arm. But, for the sake of their daughter, Mendez and L.L. reconciled. L.L. became pregnant with Mendez’s son sometime near the end of 2016. By August 2017, despite being nearly 30 weeks along and visibly showing, L.L. had not yet disclosed to Mendez that she was pregnant with their son. One day, Mendez contacted L.L.