State cites vigilantism concerns in request to shield inmate’s records from public after courthouse shooting

DANVILLE, Ind. — Prosecutors want S’Doni Pettis to appear remotely for court hearings moving forward and for the public to no longer have access to his court records.

This request comes in the wake of a courthouse shooting

involving 65-year-old Mark Vawter of Plainfield. Vawter was shot and killed by sheriff’s deputies who were escorting a group of inmates into the Hendricks County Courthouse on May 5.

Family members of the deceased believe Vawter was targeting Pettis, who is charged in the deaths of Vawter’s great-grandchildren, Ares Vawter and Iris Moore.

Pettis was not among the inmates being escorted by sheriff’s deputies when Vawter is accused of pulling out a handgun and firing at least one shot. Pettis was originally scheduled to appear at the Danville courthouse on May 5, but his hearing was moved. Vawter’s family believes he didn’t know about the change.

No deputies or inmates were hit by Vawter’s single shot. Two deputies returned fire and Vawter fell to the ground. He was pronounced dead on scene with a gun found next to his body, state police said.

The prosecutors cited a “public safety interest” as the reason for keeping Pettis away from the Danville courthouse. The request includes prohibiting public access to his court records to prevent the public from learning about his whereabouts.

Prosecutors worry that giving the public access to Pettis’s court dates could “create the opportunity for further attempts at vigilantism or reprisals.” These alleged attempts at revenge could place other people besides Pettis in jeopardy, the prosecutors argue, since he wasn’t even present for the last attempt, while sheriff’s deputies, courthouse personnel and the general public were.

Previous stories detail the criminal case being built against Pettis. The Indianapolis man is accused of fleeing from police in a stolen car and crashing into a Ford Explorer. Inside the Explorer were 2-month-old Iris Moore and 3-year-old Ares Vawter. Both children died after the vehicle burst into flames.

Pettis is charged with:

• Three counts of resisting law enforcement- use of vehicle and causes death or catastrophic injury (Level 3 felony)
• Causing death when operating a motor vehicle with a Schedule 1 or controlled substance (Level 4 felony)
• Two counts of causing catastrophic injury when operating a motor vehicle with a Schedule 1 or controlled substance (Level 4 felony)
• Conversion (Level 5 felony)
• Auto theft (Level 6 felony)