The Delaware County Prosecutor's Office plans to file charges against four Ball State University-affiliated women who were arrested in connection with an assault at a party in October, Deputy Prosecutor Judi Calhoun said.
Calhoun said she decided to file charges of battery with serious bodily injury against Ball State students Kari Streib, 20, Ashley Kirkman, 20, Rene Whiteley, 19, and former student Amanda Polson. Ball State student Alysse Popov, 20, who was arrested in connection with the same incident, won't receive these charges, Calhoun said.
"Based upon my investigations, I've determined this was the most appropriate charge," she said.
Calhoun said she expects to file formal charges against the four women today at the Delaware County Court.
Investigator Jami Brown of the Muncie Police Department said in an October interview the women were arrested on suspicion of beating Muncie resident Christina Elslinger after one of the suspects argued with Elslinger about her boyfriend. Elslinger was taken to Ball Memorial Hospital and underwent reconstructive surgery on her elbow, Brown said.
After the incident, the suspects bragged about it on Facebook, Brown said.
Calhoun said she has spent the past several months collecting witnesses' statements and waiting for medical reports, which she received earlier this week.
"There was some mix up regarding the medical reports on the extent of the victim's injuries," Calhoun said.
According to the Indiana Code, if the women are convicted, they could receive two to eight years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000 for the Class C Felony. The recommended sentence is four years, according to the Indiana Code.
Calhoun said if Elslinger's injuries had been more severe, she would have charged the women with a Class B Felony.
According to the Indiana Code, the women could have received between six and 20 years in prison, with a recommended sentence of 10 years, if they were charged and convicted of a Class B Felony.
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