Criminal confinement with a deadly weapon is the top charge that led to sentencing of an Indianapolis man in Johnson County.
On Thursday, Robert Vanatta IV, 30, was sentenced to 20 years in prison with an additional two years on probation by Circuit Court Judge Roesener. A jury convicted Vanatta of multiple felony charges in March with the highest felony being Criminal Confinement with a Deadly Weapon, a Level 3 Felony.
According to Johnson County Prosecutor Lance Hamner, the investigation began March 22, 2025, when Vanatta’s wife fled their Marion County home along with their 5-year-old daughter and her two teenage sons to escape the ongoing domestic violence she had been experiencing. In an effort to hide somewhere safe, she rented a room at Candlewood Suites in Greenwood, near the County Line Road exit from Interstate 65. Vanatta arrived a short time later trying to get information from the clerk about his family’s location. After he left the hotel, the family decided to relocate.
After exiting the hotel in their vehicle, the family was chased down, rammed, and forced off the road by Vanatta. Vanatta then ordered his wife and children into his truck at gun point while threatening to shoot them. As Vanatta began to drive with everyone in his truck, the 17-year-old stepson drew a box cutter and began to stab Vanatta. He kept stabbing Vanatta until his mother found her gun and fired warning shots to get them to stop fighting. The family then got out of the truck, ran to the hotel, where the police were called and Vanatta drove off.
The judge addressed the two teenage boys present in the courtroom for sentencing and said he has no doubt that had it not been for the bravery of these two boys, they along with their mother would be dead. Vanatta demonstrated an appalling lack of remorse for the violence he inflicted on the victims in this case. Before announcing that he was sentencing Vanatta to the maximum of 20 years in prison followed by two years on probation, Judge Roesener commented that the community is and will be much safer if he is not in it.
Prosecutor Lance Hamner said, “We are very pleased that Judge Roesener gave this dangerous criminal the maximum sentence under the law. Criminals like Vanatta are the reason maximum sentences are enacted. This is how we protect our community.”
Gov. Pritzker announces expansion of the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center at SIU - Edwardsville
2026 Illinois State Fairs' attendance tops 1 million for second consecutive year
Gas prices on the rise in Indiana
Lawrence County Board to host budget hearing
INDOT announcing Lincoln Memorial Bridge closure
Lawrenceville Police active over the weekend with two arrests
Another fatal accident in Wabash County
Lawrenceville approves water system contract changes and new ordinances
Burn ban issued for Lawrence and Richland Counties
IDHS warns against disaster assistance fraud
Richland County Illinois man sentenced on federal child porn charges
Illinois taking action to assist farmers during harvest season
Lawrence County Veterans Assistance Commission discusses superintendent hiring
Applications open for Indiana's Advanced Nuclear Ready Communities Program
Knox County approves solar setback ordinance on first reading
One killed in Wabash County pedestrian accident
Grain marketing company completes Jasper County expansion
Lawrence County Memorial Hospital adds new administrative position
USPS schedule for weekend into Columbus Day
