Stahl Receives Nine-Year Prison Sentence For Battery, Neglect
By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews
WARSAW — A Pierceton woman will serve nine years in prison after being convicted of battery and neglect charges.
Autumn B. Stahl, 34, 4722 E. Old Road 30, Pierceton, was found guilty but mentally ill in a December jury trial of attempted aggravated battery, a level 3 felony; battery by means of a deadly weapon, a level 5 felony; and neglect of a dependent and domestic battery committed in the presence of a child, both level 6 felonies.
Stahl was sentenced in Kosciusko Superior Court One on Wednesday, Jan. 4.
For attempted aggravated battery, Kosciusko Superior Court One Judge Karin McGrath sentenced Stahl to nine years at the Indiana Department of Correction. Stahl received a three-year DoC sentence for battery by means of a deadly weapon. She was also sentenced to one year at DoC for each Level 6 felony. All four counts will be served concurrently, or at the same time.
Stahl has 65 days of jail time credit in the case and will be seeking an appeal through a public defender.
At sentencing, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Joseph Sobek said Stahl’s case was “a tough one.”
“The most important thing is that Autumn be held accountable for her actions,” said Sobek. “We trust the court to render an appropriate sentence.”
Defense Attorney Nicholas Wallace, who represented Stahl at trial, described the incident as a “bottleneck of a situation where Autumn was experiencing a lot of abuse and stress, with no support from others. Her mind just broke.”
Wallace asked McGrath to consider Stahl’s lack of criminal history, mental health, and remorse as mitigators in the case.
“She regrets what happened and wants to use this experience to grow,” said Wallace. “With proper supervision and mental health treatment, these circumstances are unlikely to reoccur.”
Wallace said Stahl shouldn’t be sent to prison and requested a less than advisory sentence and probation in Stahl’s case.
Stahl gave a lengthy statement in court, recalling her medical history and additional issues prior to Aug. 1, 2020, the day the crime occurred. She said her postpartum psychosis and severe lack of sleep led to acts she’s not proud of. Stahl described postpartum psychosis as a “horrendous” experience she wouldn’t wish on anybody. She also expressed fear in seeking help, as she was scared that services available to her would take her five children out of her custody.
“I’m grateful for what I’ve gained and want to make something good out of this situation,” said Stahl. “I don’t want one bad day being held over my head. That’s not who or what I am. I didn’t ask for this medical situation to happen. I desire wholeheartedly to make something good of this situation and want to move forward with my life.”
Prior to sentencing Stahl, McGrath weighed the aggravators and mitigators in the case. Listed aggravators in the case were the seriousness of the crimes, the age of one of the victims in this case, and Stahl having a position of care over that victim. Mitigators were Stahl’s lack of criminal history and mental health.
Background on Case
On Aug. 1, 2020, a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a stabbing report at a Silver Lake residence. Upon arrival, the deputy spoke with a man who had been stabbed and bitten. The deputy also noticed a strong odor of gas in the home.
According to court documents, the man said he went to the home to check on a group of children. While giving several of the children a bath, the man smelled something burning. When he went to investigate the smell, the man saw Stahl burning a stuffed animal on a bed while holding an infant. The man then threw the stuffed animal outside.
After throwing the stuffed animal outside, the man went back into the home and saw Stahl turning on the oven and gas stove burners in an apparent attempt to fill the home with gas.
At that point, the man tried to remove the infant from Stahl’s presence to prevent the child from being harmed. During the struggle, Stahl picked up a knife, stabbed the man’s neck and bit him several times. According to the man, at one point, Stahl held the child’s mouth open with her thumb while putting water down the child’s throat by holding them under a faucet.
A man at a neighboring residence heard the altercation and responded to provide assistance. He also saw Stahl with her fingers down the child’s throat.
During the investigation, it was determined that four other children, in addition to the infant Stahl was holding, were in the home at the time.