Brayden Logan Thomas, 18, 1000 block of E. 1st. Street, Greenfield
HANCOCK COUNTY — One of the local teenagers involved in the August 2023 shooting that left another area teen in the hospital with a gunshot wound to the stomach was officially sentenced this week as an adult in Hancock County Circuit Court.
The sentencing hearing comes following the acceptance of a plea deal agreed upon by both sides and the court.
Brayden Logan Thomas, 18, 1100 block of E. 1st Street, Greenfield, was originally charged with a Level 3 felony count of aggravated battery when the assault poses a substantial risk of death, a Level 5 felony count of alteration of firearm’s identifying marks, and a Class A misdemeanor charge of dangerous possession of a firearm.
Heading into the hearing, the plea agreement stated that the defendant shall withdraw his former plea of “not guilty” and will enter a plea of “guilty” to Count II, the Level 5 felony charge of alteration of a firearm’s identifying marks, and he was to also admit guilt to a Count IV, which was a battery charge with a deadly weapon, also a Level 5 felony crime.
Judge Scott Sirk oversaw the sentencing hearing Thursday and heard testimony from both sides, including Thomas, who told the court he was sincerely sorry for his actions. Sirk then sentenced Thomas to a 10-year term, five years for each guilty count.
Thomas is to serve a total of three years at the Indiana Department of Corrections (IDOC), three years are then to be served on home detention with the remaining four years to be served on probation. Prosecutor Brent Eaton noted his office had asked for eight years to be served at the IDOC due to the fact Thomas shot another teen.
“If he wants to do big boy crimes he can do big boy time,” Eaton said. “But, he’s going to get credit for time he’s already served, so he’ll probably only end up serving another year or maybe less in prison.”
The prosecutor’s office had Thomas’ case moved from juvenile court to adult court earlier this year due to the severity of the crime.
Eaton went on to say, “Thomas did say he truly regretted what happened that day and his actions, and he told the family of the victim he was remorseful for what he had done, so I do feel he deserves some credit for admitting that.”
Eaton also noted Thomas’ defense attorney, Robert Elsea, did a good job showing how Thomas had stayed out of trouble while his case was making it’s way through the court system and how Thomas had taken classes to better himself and get his life in order.
The plea agreement also noted Count II shall run consecutive to Count IV and that a “no contact” order would be in place directly or indirectly with the victim in the matter for the duration of the sentence.
According to a probable cause affidavit, officials from the Greenfield Police Department were flagged down around 4:30 p.m. Aug. 6 2023 in the 800 block of East Main Street by a witness to a shooting. The report states an officer was directed to a 17-year-old juvenile male who had an apparent gunshot entry wound to his right abdomen. The victim was transported for immediate medical attention while officers began an investigation.
Officers learned that the shooting took place at a residence in the 1100 block of East First Street, Greenfield. According to the affidavit, upon arrival at the house officials immediately noted a shattered glass pane on an exterior entry door of the residence. The pane was facing the south, with broken glass on the ground, and a small hole in the screen of the door appeared to resemble a bullet hole, officials stated in the report.
Officers stated that they gave verbal commands to a male later identified as Thomas, who was 17 at the time, to exit the residence and he did. When officers were clearing the residence, in plain view they observed a handgun with magazines lying on a kitchen counter in the residence, officials said in the report.
Thomas agreed to talk with officials and, according to the affidavit, Thomas stated he had been exchanging text messages with the victim when he saw the vehicle pull up to his residence. Thomas told officials he saw the victim approach the front door with his fists balled up and he began banging on the door. Thomas stated he did not see the victim with any weapons but grabbed a gun from the kitchen counter aimed it at the center of the door, pulled the trigger, and shot the victim through the front door.
Following the shooting, officials noted in the report that Thomas made two phone calls before calling 911 to report the incident.
As for the victim, who has recovered, officials noted in the report that surgery was required to remove approximately four feet of the victim’s intestine due to the damage caused by the gunshot wound.
