Executive Summary
- Dwayne Clemons is scheduled for trial on June 10 regarding 11 felony charges, including kidnapping and aggravated battery.
- The charges stem from a February incident involving the assault of a woman and the abduction of a 2-year-old boy, which triggered an Amber Alert.
- Law enforcement utilized chemical agents to end a standoff at a North Judson residence after negotiations failed.
- The suspect was apprehended on a nationwide parole warrant following the safe recovery of the child.
A trial date has been formally scheduled for Dwayne Clemons, a 44-year-old resident of North Judson, Indiana, who faces nearly a dozen felony charges connected to a domestic incident and subsequent Amber Alert. According to online court records, Clemons is set to stand trial on June 10, with preliminary hearings slated for April 8 and May 27. The defendant is currently facing 11 felony counts, including aggravated battery, criminal confinement, kidnapping, and domestic battery.
Law enforcement reports indicate the sequence of events began on Thursday, February 5, when a female victim suffering from head trauma was admitted to the Northwest Starke Emergency Room. The victim told investigators that she had been confined and assaulted by her husband, identified as Clemons. Following the alleged assault, the victim stated that Clemons transported her to the hospital before fleeing the premises with their 2-year-old son. Authorities noted that the victim reported Clemons was armed with a .45 caliber pistol and had issued threats of harm against both himself and the victim.
The disappearance of the child prompted an extensive multi-agency search and the issuance of an Amber Alert. Starke County Sheriff’s deputies and assisting officers executed a search warrant at Clemons’ residence in North Judson but initially failed to locate the suspect or the child. Officers pursued leads throughout the night, eventually receiving a dispatch call at approximately 7:35 a.m. on Friday, February 6, indicating the child had been located at a residence on South A Street in North Judson.
While securing the safety of the child, deputies received intelligence placing Clemons at a separate property on Donna Street. Police established a perimeter, and a negotiator from the Starke County Sheriff’s Office attempted to establish contact via phone and loudspeaker. According to official police statements, when negotiations yielded no result, tactical teams deployed chemical agents into the residence. Clemons subsequently exited the home and was taken into custody on an outstanding nationwide parole warrant.
It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Procedural & Judicial Outlook
The scheduling of the June 10 trial date marks a significant shift from the investigative to the adjudicative phase of this high-profile case. Given the severity of the 11 felony charges—particularly the kidnapping and aggravated battery counts—the upcoming pre-trial hearings in April and May will be critical for establishing evidentiary boundaries and potential plea negotiations. The use of chemical agents during the arrest and the involvement of a nationwide parole warrant suggest that the prosecution may leverage the defendant’s prior criminal history and the circumstances of the standoff to argue against leniency in bail or sentencing considerations.
