On Wednesday, October 25 at 10:30 a.m. in Judge Carl Taul’s courtroom, the matter of Richard Oldfield vs. the State of Indiana came to a close.

Oldfield had entered a guilty plea on two counts of Battery with a Deadly Weapon, stemming from an incident on April 9, 2005 when Oldfield admittedly stabbed two 20-year old men at a Penntown apartment.

The sentencing phase of the trial was continued from September 25. Judge Taul stated that the court felt the matter deserved more time. He went on to say that normally the court is not given the opportunity to examine a case in such detail.

Judge Taul stated that what he believes happened was a brief incident involving confusion, alcohol, drugs and testosterone. Taul proposed that nobody involved was blameless. He noted that although it was difficult to determine, “I think I have discerned what actually happened, my opinion of what actually happened.” Taul stated that he thinks the participants in the altercation were very aware they were going to a fight. He also stated that he believes Oldfield was humiliated and angry and deliberately brought two knives.

Judge Taul noted mitigating factors such as Oldfield’s youth, the likelihood that he will respond to punishment, and that he had strong provocation. Taul listed aggravating factors as the severity of the injuries caused by Oldfield who brought the knives, and Oldfield’s prior history, which Taul commented was “not severe but showed disdain for authority.”

It was therefore Judge Taul’s decision to sentence Oldfield to six years on each count to run consecutively, with two years suspended on each count. He was also ordered to pay restitution to Andrew Matthews in the amount of $6,950.64 and to Randy Blake Eiler in the amount of $30,928.49. Following time served, Oldfield will be put on probation for a period of four years.

Judge Taul then ordered Oldfield to be escorted to the Ripley County Jail to begin his incarceration immediately.