High-profile court cases to move forward

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – The subjects of two high profile cases in Marion County were each scheduled to appear in court Wednesday morning.

A bond review hearing was set for an Indianapolis police officer who has been accused of trying to kill his girlfriend.

IMPD Officer Justin Beaton’s attorney, Jack Crawford, said he would ask the judge to reduce his client’s $300,000 bond.

Crawford was expected to suggest Beaton agree to home detention and GPS monitoring based on the IMPD officer not having a criminal record but prosecutors said they would oppose the motion.

Marion County Deputy Prosecutor Melissa Arvin said the bond set was appropriate.

Beaton’s live-in girlfriend told police that in Aug. 2014, the officer shot her through a glass door with what she thought were blank rounds. The incident left the woman with broken teeth and glass shards in her mouth.

Beaton’s hearing was set for 9 a.m. Wednesday.

A man accused of shooting a woman and driving her, when gravely wounded, to the Indianapolis City-County Building would also make his first court appearance Wednesday.

William Smith told police that someone outside shot into his truck hitting Azya Knowles, 20, on Feb. 11.

Police took Smith into custody that day and later determined the suspect’s story was a lie, that he shot the victim who later died from her injuries.

The court scheduled Smith’s initial hearing for 9 a.m. Wednesday.