Travis Tuttle
COLUMBUS, Ind. — A local man facing several felonies following the drug-related death of his 8-year-son has made his first court appearance.
Travis E. Tuttle, 35, of 4373 Serenity Drive, appeared via video conferencing from the jail for his initial hearing before Bartholomew Superior Court 1 Judge James Worton.
Tuttle is accused of neglect of a dependent causing death in the March 21 death of his son, Clifty Creek second-grader Lealyn Tuttle, from acute fentanyl and diphenhydramine intoxication.
Formal charges filed against the defendant are neglect of a dependent resulting in death, a Level 1 felony, and possession of a narcotic drug, a Level 6 felony.
During the initial hearing, Worton appointed public defender Jane Ann Noblitt to represent Tuttle in his upcoming court hearings. That includes a change of plea hearing scheduled for March 28 at 9:45 a.m., a pre-trial conference for April 18 at 11 a.m., and a tentative trial date of April 26, with jury selection beginning at 8:30 a.m.
For the complete story, see Tuesday’s Republic.
