Madison Man Convicted In Domestic Battery Trial

The victim stated that she arranged for the child exchange to occur at the Library because she had concerns and believed it would be a safe place.

Larry Eaglin, Photo Provided

(Madison, Ind.) - A Madison man, Larry Eaglin, Jr., age 44, was convicted of Domestic Battery, a level 6 felony, in the Jefferson Superior Court following a two-day trial. The State alleged that Eaglin battered his ex-girlfriend during a custody exchange of their child.

Prosecutor David Sutter commented, “The conviction, in this case, comes at a time when we also happen to be raising awareness of the dangers of domestic violence to families and especially to children. The victim in the case was right to take precautions for the protection of her child. I am pleased with the justice delivered here and hope this will remind others to always put the safety and well-being of their children first.”

The investigation began on January 22, 2019, when the Madison Police Department responded to a complaint of domestic battery occurring at the Madison Public Library. Madison Police Detective Shawn Scudder interviewed the victim, who advised that she and Eaglin shared custody of a young child. The victim stated that she arranged for the child exchange to occur at the Library because she had concerns and believed it would be a safe place. The victim also described that she set her mobile phone to audio record the exchange and placed the phone in her jacket pocket. During the exchange, Eaglin removed the phone from the victim’s jacket pocket, became angry, and struck the victim in the face, just below the eyes, with closed fists. The incident occurred in the presence of the child.

Detective Scudder also followed the Jefferson County Domestic Violence protocol by utilizing domestic violence screening tools, a domestic violence lethality assessment, and a battery affidavit completed by the victim.

Following the investigation, the Jefferson County Prosecutor’s Office charged Eaglin with Domestic Battery in the Presence of a Child, a level 6 felony. These documents were utilized at trial by Deputy Prosecutor, Elizabeth Stigdon, along with the testimony of the victim and Detective Scudder. At the conclusion of the trial, Eaglin was found guilty of domestic battery as a level 6 felony.

“Our success in this case demonstrates the strength of our law enforcement team here in Jefferson County, and, in particular, the effectiveness of our domestic violence procedures,” said Prosecutor Sutter. “I also commend the bravery of the victim for stepping up and seeing this case though, which is very difficult in these situations,” noted Sutter. Sutter further committed that, “we will maintain our exacting and assertive approach to protecting and serving crime victims in Jefferson County because that is what the people of our community rightfully expect.”

Eaglin is scheduled to be sentenced by the Jefferson Superior Court on December 9, 2020, at 9:00 a.m.