A one-day trial in Starke Circuit Court was held Wednesday, February 14 resulted in not guilty verdicts.
Matthew Reppert, of Koontz Lake, was charged with battery by a deadly weapon as a Level 5 Felony and battery as a misdemeanor.
The victim and a witness, who were friends of the defendant at the time of the incident, testified that on July 23, 2023 they went to visit Reppert at his home and Reppert let them inside the home. A discussion turned physical. The victim testified that he punched Reppert in the face and then Reppert went into his bedroom where the victim knew he kept weapons. The victim and a witness followed Reppert to the bedroom. The victim testified that Reppert got a machete and the witness was able to get the weapon away from him. Reppert then brandished a handgun, cocked it, pointed it at the victim and the witness and then they left the house.
The victim testified that Reppert got out of the house ahead of them and another physical altercation occurred where the victim said Reppert hit him on the left side of the head with the handgun. The victim and the witness then left the area before the police arrived.
Reppert took the stand in his own defense and testified that he did not willingly let the victim and the witness into his home. He also stated that he was acting in self defense when he retrieved a machete and handgun. He testified that the victim and the witness followed him to his bedroom after the initial confrontation. He stated in court that he told the pair to leave, but they did not want to leave. Reppert denied ever hitting the victim in the face with the handgun.
Starke County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Deputy Chris Botone and Starke County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Jack Hudgens were also called to testify during the trial.
The State of Indiana was represented by Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Matt Poulos and Reppert was defended by Attorney Richard Ballard.
The jury of 12 deliberated for less than a half hour. There was one alternate juror.
