***MEDIA ADVISORY***

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 16, 2014

WILLIE JENKINS CONVICTED OF HOME INVASION ROBBERY

Media Contact: Curtis T. Hill, Jr. (574) 296-1888

On September 16, 2014 an Elkhart County Circuit Court jury convicted Willie Jenkins of home invasion robbery after a two day trial. On December 6, 2013, Willie Jenkins and another male burglarized the home of Frankie Blackmon. They pushed their way into the home while Blackmon was present. The victim was struck in the head with a bottle and was forced to the floor where he was threatened with a large handgun. Two other individuals who knew Mr. Blackmon were also present and were confined against their will during the robbery. The two assailants proceeded to ransack the victim's home, stealing jewelry, money, and cell phones.

The attackers fled the scene but were later identified by all three witnesses while speaking with officers from the Elkhart Police Department. Jenkins faces up to ninety years incarceration in the Indiana Department of Correction. Sentencing is scheduled for October 9, 2014. This case was tried by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Don Pitzer before Judge Terry Shewmaker.

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“Under Indiana law, all persons arrested for a criminal offense are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”