MUNCIE, IN — A Delaware Circuit Court 4 jury has found a Muncie man guilty of criminal confinement, battery and intimidation.
The jury deliberated for about three hours on Tuesday, Nov. 18, before returning the guilty verdicts against 24-year-old Donaven Drake Hood.
During the trial, deputy prosecutors Lexi Starost and Adrian Perez presented the testimony of witnesses who said Hood severely beat a 38-year-old local man in an apartment in the 700 block of West Centennial Avenue.
According to an affidavit, a portion of the June 2022 attack — showing the victim being beaten while bound — was recorded and apparently posted on Snapchat.
The court document said the beating victim was left with blackened eyes, broken ribs, a fractured wrist and a swollen ear.
Hood reportedly told officers the victim was an intruder who had broken into his apartment.
Judge John Feick set sentencing for Hood for Dec. 17. The most serious of the charges, criminal confinement, is a Level 3 felony carrying up to 16 years in prison.
On Feb. 9, Hood is set to stand trial on four charges filed against him in March 2021, also in Circuit Court 4: domestic battery, battery resulting in bodily injury and two counts of interference with the reporting of a crime.
Also that day, he is scheduled to stand trial on two charges filed in July 2023, stalking and invasion of privacy.
According to court records, Hood has also been convicted of crimes including fraud, battery resulting in bodily injury and battery.
“Another violent felon has been taken off the streets,” Delaware County Prosecutor Eric Hoffman said after Tuesday’s verdicts were returned.
Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Delaware County jury finds Muncie man guilty of criminal confinement, battery, intimidation
Reporting by Douglas Walker, Muncie Star Press / Muncie Star Press
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