Indianapolis man sentenced to 30 years for Parke County crimes

Thursday, January 22, 2026 at 8:54 AM

By Paul Gable

An Indianapolis man was sentenced to three decades behind bars for his role in several Parke County crimes.

Jayden Smith, 20, Indianapolis, was sentenced earlier this week to 30 years for his role in an April 2024 crime that left the victim battered and needing flown to an Indianapolis hospital.

As part of a plea deal, Smith will spend 30 years in jail for burglary with serious injury, but auto theft and armed robbery charges were dropped.

According to court documents, on April 24, 2024, Smith took part in an armed robbery, burglary that resulted in serious bodily harm and an auto theft and left the victim with a broken arm and fractured skull. A short time after the beating, an auto theft was reported from Montezuma.

After leaving Parke County, Smith traveled to Demotte, Gary and Indianapolis, using a stolen debit card along the way.

Smith has an extensive criminal past, including charges of identity deception, possession of meth, and forgery.