Court records indicate that the perpetrator in a murder/suicide that happened in the parking lot of Terre Haute’s southside Kroger had three prior convictions for domestic violence, and had been in court the morning of the incident.

On August 3rd, 2013 Dustin Tubbs was arrested and charged with Domestic Battery with Enhancement (Class D Felony), Domestic Battery (Misdemeanor), and Interference with Reporting a Crime (Misdemeanor). A no contact order was also issued but later vacated.

Tubbs requested a public defender and was assigned local attorney Michael Ellis and on December 3rd a plea agreement was reached in which Tubbs plead guilty to the domestic violence misdemeanor and the other two counts were dismissed.

The sentence was 1 year in jail with 6 days served and the balance suspended, 359 days of informal probation, counseling through the Hamilton Center, and a $50 “Domestic Violence Fee.”

It appears Tubbs was charged again on May 26th, 2021 and arrested on June 15th for Domestic Battery in the presence of a minor (Level 6 Felony), Domestic Battery (Misdemeanor), and Domestic Battery with prior conviction (Level 6 Felony).

Judge Christopher Newton presided over the case and local attorney Michael Ellis was again appointed to represent Tubbs. A no contact issue was ordered and was later terminated. On October 4th, 2021 Tubbs plead guilty to Domestic Battery with a prior conviction and the other two counts were dismissed.

This time he received a two year jail sentence with four days served and the “remaining balance suspended to Informal Probation.” He was also order to pay for anger management counseling at “Choices,” and pay a $50 domestic violence fee.

Tubbs is again arrested on arrested and charged on April 18th, 2022 for Domestic Battery resulting in serious bodily injury (Level 5 Felony), Domestic Battery committed in the presence of a minor (Level 6 Felony), Domestic Battery (Misdemeanor), Interference with the Reporting of a Crime (Misdemeanor), Domestic Battery with previous conviction (Level 5 Felony).

This time during his initial hearing Tubbs informs the court of his intention to retain private council and is released on his own recognizance, and judge Christopher Newton issues a no contact order. Tubbs hires local attorney Joseph Etling to represent him.

After a series of pre-trial hearings and continuances filed by Etling on behalf of Tubbs, he eventually accepts a plea agreement on June 13th, 2024 in which he plead guilty to the misdemeanor domestic battery and all of the other four charges were dismissed.

Tubbs receives a sentence of one year in jail with four days served, and the balance suspended to informal probation. He is also charged a $50 domestic violence fee.

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