Prosecutor is serious about domestic violence
A Batesville man who pled guilty to felony Intimidation and misdemeanor Invasion of Privacy is alleged to have violated his probation and committed a new felony less than 30 days into his 1217-day sentence. However, due to Ripley Superior Court not extraditing him back to Indiana, the Ripley County Prosecutor Ric Hertel filed a Motion to Enforce Warrants and Effectuate Extradition.
According to the court document, Andy Kyle West had pled guilty to Intimidation, a Level 6 Felony and Invasion of Privacy, a Class A Misdemeanor on August 11.
West was given a sentence of 910 days, with 852 days suspended to probation for the Intimidation and a sentence of 365 days with 365 days suspended to probation on the Invasion of Privacy charge. The sentencing order included a No Contact Order with the victim (AW) in both cases. An additional term of the sentence was that West attend a rehabilitation facility in the State of California that would begin with inpatient rehabilitation followed by outpatient recovery.
The court document reads, “On September 5, 2025, less than 30 days from being placed on probation and outside the confines of the rehabilitation facility, the Defendant allegedly contacted the protected person (AW).” The victim immediately contacted the Batesville Police Department where an investigation began.
On September 5 a new felony charge of Invasion of Privacy was filed. The court paperwork notes that due to the allegation of the Defendant committing a new criminal offense while on probation, a Petition for Probation Violation Hearing and warrant was also filed.
On September 8 the Ripley Superior Court issued three warrants for the Defendant’s arrest. On September 11 the defendant (West) was arrested in California based on the warrants out of Ripley County. On September 15 the defendant waived extradition to the State of Indiana. However, on September 17 the Ripley Superior Court decided to not have West transported back to Ripley County. The paperwork states, “…the Ripley Superior Court decided, without a hearing or the parties’ input to not transport Defendant back to Ripley County to address the above-referenced matters.”
On September 18 due to Ripley County Superior Court’s decision to not bring the defendant back to Indiana he was released from custody in California. The filing notes “the Ripley County Probation Department, law enforcement, and the Ripley County Prosecutors Office have been unaware of Defendant’s whereabouts.” The document goes on to say that the State is concerned for the victim’s safety and that she has been notified and the State has attempted to take additional precautions for her safety.
On September 25 the defendant, by counsel Jud McMillan, filed a Motion to Show Warrant as Executed and set Initial Hearing. And on September 30 Superior Court Judge Sharp asked the defendant to turn himself in within the next 30 days to satisfy the active warrants.
Following the filing of the State’s Motion last week, the victim in this matter provided yet another possible criminal violation as she notified the State that the Defendant allegedly again contacted her the night of September 29. Based on this new information the Prosecutors Office has filed another felony charge on Sept. 30, Invasion of Privacy. The Defendant now is facing a probation violation and two separate felony charges.
When prosecuting attorney Ric Hertel was asked about the case and filings in this matter he had no answers for the court’s decision saying, “We’ve extradited from multiple states in the past and have often requested repayment from the defendant for costs incurred by the Sheriff’s Office to retrieve him/her.”
Hertel went on to say his biggest concern though is the safety and welfare of the victim and her family in this matter. He noted that the filing of another felony charge this week could possibly have been prevented had the Defendant remained in custody.
