Perez
A Rush County man is facing up to 32 years in prison after pleading guilty to shooting his brother and nephew two years ago in Hope.
Robbie L. Perez, 36, of Homer, pleaded guilty Thursday in Bartholomew Circuit Court to two identical felonies: aggravated battery when the assault poses a substantial risk of death as Level 3 felonies.
Although the most serious charge of attempted murder was dropped as part of a plea agreement, deputy prosecutor Meagan Dial-McDonough and public defender Joseph Villanueva agreed not to attempt to impose any sentencing restrictions or conditions on Judge Kelly Benjamin, other than those already required by state law.
The sentencing hearing will get underway at 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 7. Dial-McDonough said she would need about an hour to allow those affected by the shootings to deliver their impact statements.
Under the plea agreement, the minimum sentence is six years with the Indiana Department of Correction. However, Robbie Perez could be ordered to pay up to $20,000 in fines, Benjamin said.
During questioning by the judge Thursday, the defendant said he was a drug abuser and an alcoholic.
On June 1, 2023, deputies from the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office were called to the 300 block of Elm Street in Hope at 11:25 p.m. on a report of a shooting, according to sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Dane Duke.
The deputies discovered that George Perez Jr., who was 36 at the time, and his then-3-year-old son, Kingston, had been shot inside their residence. Both father and son, who were transported by Lifeline helicopter to Indianapolis hospitals, and recovered from their wounds, according to Hope police.
George Perez would later tell investigators he did not believe his brother intended to shoot his son, adding he believed the bullet was intended to strike him, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Investigators said there was a long-running feud between the two brothers. Deputies were told that Robbie Perez went to the home, stood on the porch, fired shots inside that wounded the father and son, and then fled the scene.
The next morning, deputies were told that Robbie Perez’s silver Chevrolet HHR was westbound on East King Street near I-65 in Johnson County.
Franklin police located the vehicle and attempted to stop it, Duke said. A vehicle pursuit ensued and Robbie Perez was taken into custody by the Franklin officers.
However, when he was stopped, Robbie Perez was found to be suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his chin at the end of the pursuit.
