• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Rigney Law

Experienced Criminal Defense Attorneys - Helping You Navigate Criminal Justice System

Free Consultation(317) 430-7370
  • Criminal Defense
    • Civil Forfeiture
    • Drug Crimes
    • OWI
      • First OWI Offense
      • Second OWI Offense
      • Third OWI Offense & Felony OWI
    • Expungement
    • Gun Crimes
    • License Rehabilitation
    • Parole
  • About Rigney Law LLC
    • About Us
    • Our Philosophy
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Contact Us

Grant County Judge Orders Police To Return Land Rover At Center Of Civil Forfeiture Case

April 29, 2020

Judge Ruled Police Violated the Eighth Amendment When They Seized a Land Rover During a Drug Bust – Civil Forfeiture

WTIU/WFIU News, Steve Burns reports: Judge Jeffrey D. Todd ruled police violated the Eighth Amendment when officers seized Tyson Timbs’ $35,000 Land Rover during a drug bust in May of 2013. The Eighth Amendment bars excessive bail and excessive fines.

Timbs pleaded guilty to selling $400 worth of heroin from his Land Rover. He served a year of house arrest and paid $1,200 in court costs.

However, lawyers from the state of Indiana filed a “Civil Forfeiture” lawsuit to take the title to Timbs’ Land Rover. Timbs purchased his vehicle with part of a $70,000 life insurance policy left to him from his dad.

“The State sought forfeiture of his only asset; an asset he purchased using life insurance proceeds rather than drug money, and a tool essential to maintaining employment, obtaining treatment, and reducing the likelihood that he would ever again commit another criminal offense,” Judge Todd said in court documents issued Monday.

Although a trial court ruled in 2015 the state should return Timbs’ vehicle, the Indiana State Supreme Court ruled state and local authorities are not bound by the Eighth Amendment.

Timbs’ appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court which ordered the Indiana Supreme Court to re-hear the case. The state’s high court sent Timb’s case back to Judge Todd’s courtroom last October.

 

Categories: Civil Forfeiture, Rulings, U.S. Supreme Court Tags: Civil Forfeiture, Eighth Amendment, Indiana Supreme Court, US Supreme Court

Primary Sidebar

Free Consultation





    Practice Areas

    • Criminal Defense
      • Civil Asset Forfeiture
      • Drug Crimes
      • DUI & OWI
        • First OWI Offense
        • Second OWI Offense
        • Third Offense OWI & Felony OWI
      • Expungement
      • Gun Crimes
      • License Rehabilitation
      • Parole

    Contact Us

      HELP YOURSELF BY CONTACTING OUR OFFICE TODAY. THE CONSULTATION IS FREE AND EASY TO SCHEDULE.





      Footer

      Rigney Law Criminal Defense Attorneys Logo

      Phone Icon

      Available 24 Hours

      Office: Call (317) 430-7370

      Pinpoint Icon

      Our Office

      303 North Alabama St., Suite 310

      Indianapolis, IN 46204

      Copyright © 2021 Rigney Law LLC | Privacy Policy | Sitemap
      The content of this website is advertising material and Rigney Law LLC is responsible for its content.