Laquenta A. Gaines, 36, Indianapolis
HANCOCK COUNTY — An Indianapolis man who fled from police and then drew a loaded firearm on an officer during an incident in January of 2021 was sentenced last week in Hancock Circuit Court as the case came to a close.
Laquenta A. Gaines, 36, was sentenced to a six-year term for his crimes with five years to be executed in the Indiana Department of Corrections and one year suspended to probation.
Gaines was found guilty in June following a trial on one Level 5 felony count of intimidation and three Level 6 felony counts of criminal recklessness, and (2) resisting law enforcement. He was also found guilty of a Class A misdemeanor count of carrying a handgun without a license.
“I am pleased with this sentence,” Prosecutor Brent Eaton said.
Eaton described Gaines’ actions as “extremely dangerous” and he noted how Gaines put a law enforcement officer’s life in danger.
Gaines was originally charged with eight crimes in all, but he was found not guilty of two of them — resisting law enforcement and theft of a firearm — while a Class A misdemeanor for possession of marijuana was dismissed.
Eaton praised Hancock County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Richard VanOsdol, who Eaton said acted quickly to subdue Gaines and call for back-up during the Jan. 29, 2021 incident. On that date, VanOsdol initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle that was exceeding the speed limit. When he spoke with the driver and passenger, he could smell both raw and burnt marijuana, a probable cause affidavit said.
When the deputy attempted to get Gaines, who was driving the car, to exit it, Gaines fled on foot. When VanOsdol caught up with him, Gaines had his hands on a handgun he had concealed in his waistband, officials said in the report.
“Thanks to the quick actions of Deputy VanOsdol and the other responding officers who provided backup, this incident had a positive resolution,” Eaton said. “This case has been ongoing for several years, and I’m pleased to finally have this resolution.”
Eaton also thanked one of his deputy prosecutor’s for handling the case and getting it closed. Deputy prosecutor David Ostendorf handled the case and said the office got the sentence they were looking for.
“The lead charge in this case was a Level 5 felony, carrying a sentencing range of one to six years,” Ostendorf said. “The defendant had only one prior conviction before this case. It is rewarding that he received the maximum sentence, with the majority of it to be served in the Department of Correction. The State advocated for this sentence due to the serious risk this incident posed to law enforcement.”
