Attorneys seek extension in Allen’s appeal

Richard Allen

With the deadline for filing an appellate brief looming, Richard Allen’s attorneys have asked for an extension.

On Tuesday, July 29, Allen’s appellate attorneys filed a Motion for Extension of Time to File the Appellant’s Brief. The Brief will outline errors Allen’s attorneys perceive the trial court made, and will present the legal basis for why the appellate court should intervene by reversing, remanding, or modifying his conviction.

Allen, who was found guilty of murder Nov. 11, 2024, in the deaths of Abigail Williams and Liberty German, was sentenced Dec. 20, 2024, to the maximum sentence of 130 years in the Department of Corrections.

Allen’s trial attorneys, Bradley Rozzi, Jennifer Auger, and Andrew Baldwin, filed a Motion to Correct Errors on Jan. 20. That order was denied Feb. 14, eight years after the bodies of Williams and German were found in a wooded area not far from the High Bridge where they had gone to hike.

A Notice of Appeal was filed on March 1, by Allen’s appellate attorneys, Mark Leeman, of Logansport, and Bagersville attorney Stacy Uliana. On July 7, after being granted two extensions, Court Reporter Jodie Williams filed a Notice of Completion of the trial transcripts.

In their request for a 30-day extension, Allen’s attorney stated they need the extension “because despite due diligence, counsel will be unable to draft a brief by the deadline …The transcripts consist of 22 volumes and have approximately 5,076 pages. The exhibits consist of 15 volumes and have approximately 3,581 pages. Additionally, there are two (2) supplemental exhibit volumes that contain approximately 198 media files and 40 document files,” court documents state.

Allen was moved July 17 from the Pendleton Correctional Facility to the Lexington Assessment and Reception Center in Lexington, Oklahoma.

The newspaper inquired about the transfer with the IDOC. IDOC Chief Communications Officer Annie Geller responded, stating, “Richard Allen was moved under the Interstate Corrections Compact, in which Indiana DOC has agreements with 21 other states to transfer individuals such as those who are high profile, for their safety and to offer that same level of safety to other states in return.”