Full Breakdown
Indiana Man Indicted in 2006 Dickus Double Murder After Legal Gap Closed
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Core Event: Indictment and Charges
Michael Jerome James, now 35, was indicted on four counts of murder for the July 24, 2006 killings of 10-year-old Blake Dickus and his 26-year-old stepmother, Chynna Dickus, in Franklin, Indiana. The indictment was entered in Johnson Circuit Court in early October. James has not yet secured counsel, has been ordered to obtain an attorney by early November, and remains held without bond. A pre-trial conference is set for December.
Legal Background and Statutory Changes
Indiana law historically gave juvenile courts exclusive jurisdiction over offenses committed by minors. Because James was not identified until after he turned 18, prosecutors could not charge him in juvenile court, and the existing adult-court statutes did not cover crimes committed before the 2023 reform. A 2023 statute attempted to bridge this gap but was rejected by the Indiana Court of Appeals and the Indiana Supreme Court. In response, lawmakers drafted and passed a new statute in 2025 that created a mechanism for adult courts to try certain historic juvenile offenses, which prosecutors say now permits the indictment.
Official Statements & Responses
Johnson County Prosecutor Lance Hamner explained that the “legal gap” delayed charges for years and that the 2025 law gave the needed authority to proceed. He expressed confidence that the new statute will survive any legal challenge. Criminal-defense attorney Mike Cunningham countered that Indiana law still bars adult prosecution for crimes committed before the 2023 change, suggesting the defense may contest jurisdiction.
Verbatim Quotes
- “That's what took us so long,” — County Prosecutor Lance Hamner — Lance Hamner, Johnson County Prosecutor
- “That leaves a gap because this person is alleged to have committed a crime when he was 14, was not charged in juvenile court, and now that he's over the age of 18 could not be charged in adult court because of the way that law was written,” — County Prosecutor Lance Hamner — Lance Hamner, Johnson County Prosecutor
- “We started back over. We went back to the legislature and, with the guidance of the decision in that 2023 statute, drafted a new law that would satisfy the concerns that the Indiana Supreme Court had.” — County Prosecutor Lance Hamner — Lance Hamner, Johnson County Prosecutor
- “Nothing's ever certain, but I'm a lot more confident about this statute than we were with the other one,” — County Prosecutor Lance Hamner — Lance Hamner, Johnson County Prosecutor
- “His poor little hands were so bad, like, he tried to grab the knife and like, his thumb was almost sliced off,” — Christina Smith — Christina Smith, mother of Blake Dickus
What’s Next
The court will hold a pre-trial conference in December. If James’ defense challenges the jurisdictional basis, the case could set a precedent for how Indiana prosecutes historic juvenile offenses under the 2025 statute.