James Francisco Payne v. State of Indiana

── James Francisco Payne v. State of Indiana ── Case No.: 23A-CR-02325 Court: Indiana Court of Appeals Date: November 13, 2024 Author: Judge Nancy Vaidik County of Origin: Vanderburgh Category: Criminal Decision: Reversed and Remanded Judge Kenworthy concurs. Judge Felix dissents In 2022, the State charged Payne with several counts of felony battery, alleging that he walked into a gas station in Evansville and beat the clerk, Ryan Gangwer, over the head with a wrench for no apparent reason. The case was assigned to a court that had presided over many other cases against Payne from 2019 to 2021. Because the court’s exposure to Payne’s serious mental illness in the prior cases is relevant to this appeal, we start by summarizing those cases. I.