VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — A man has been sentenced to 12 years of home detention after pleading guilty to burglary, criminal recklessness, and intimidation.
According to a press release from Vigo County Prosecutor Terry Moddesitt, John Lyman went to his son’s residence at 5:30 a.m. on July 3, 2022 where he then repeatedly shot into the occupied home and unoccupied vehicle with an AR-style rifle.
The release notes that Lyman’s actions were in response to “his son not answering a phone call and not responding to a text message around 4:30 a.m.” and that “Lyman was under the influence of alcohol and Xanax when he loaded his AR-style rifle and drove to his son’s residence.”
When Lyman arrived, he attempted to force his way into his son’s home and fired multiple shots into the doors and windows of the residence, and into the windshield and hood of a parked vehicle.
Under the terms of the agreement in the case, Lyman was looking at receiving between a two and 12-year sentence. During the July 18, 2023 sentencing hearing, both victims in the case made impact statements and requested the court sentence Lyman to the Indiana Department of Correction.
Chief Deputy Prosecutor Rob Roberts argued that the crime was one of violence, terror, and rage and should therefore result in a 12-year sentence. Roberts also mentioned that an evaluation from Vigo County Community Corrections found that Lyman was not fitted for home detention or work release due to the violent nature of the current charges while using a firearm.
“Our priority has been and continues to be prosecution of gun-related and violent crimes.” said
Prosecutor Terry Modesitt. “We will continue to aggressively prosecute these crimes with the
intent that violent offenders spend time in prison.”
