Indiana judge admonishes abducted teens’ sister at hearing
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – A judge during an initial hearing on a drug charge has admonished the sister of two Indianapolis teenagers kidnapped and held for ransom after she allegedly stole from her ex-boyfriend.
Marion Superior Court Judge Shatrese Flowers asked 27-year-old Whitney Blackwell on Monday whether she could afford to hire her own attorney when Blackwell replied that she needed “a public pretender.”
Flowers admonished Blackwell for using “that adjective” and assigned her a public defender.
She’s charged with one count of conspiracy to deal cocaine.
Federal prosecutors say Blackwell stole $120,000, cocaine and OxyContin from her ex-boyfriend. He and five others are charged with kidnapping Blackwell’s 16-year-old brother and 13-year-old sister last week from their Indianapolis home.
Police freed the boy and the girl was released by her alleged abductors.
