The St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office has announced that multiple “high profile cases” went to trial during the week, resulting in five separate guilty verdicts. Dion Moore was found guilty of Felony Murder and Robbery, Keith Hardy was found guilty of Murder and Battery by Means of a Deadly Weapon, Joseph Williams was found guilty of Murder, Steven Kasznia was found guilty of Rape, and Toro Franklin, Jr. was found guilty of the Possession of a Narcotic.

The following news release was sent to 95.3 MNC from the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office detailing the case:

St. Joseph County – This past week, the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office had five high profile cases go to trial. Each jury trial ended with a guilty verdict. Please see the following information for each trial in addition to the attached probable cause affidavits.

Dion Moore (31), of South Bend was charged with three counts for the June 6, 2023, shooting death of Curtis Shelby (29).

Mr. Moore was charged with:
Count I: Murder, a felony
Count II: Felony Murder
Count III: Robbery, a level 2 felony

On May 17, 2024, Mr. Moore was found guilty of:
Count II: Felony Murder
Count III: Robbery, a level 2 felony

He was found not guilty of:
Count I: Murder.

The sentencing range for felony murder is 45 to 65 years.
The sentence range for a level 2 felony is 10-30 years.
Mr. Moore will be sentenced on June 12, 2024.

 

Keith Hardy (24), of Chicago, Illinois, was charged with two counts for the April 12, 2023 incident in which Marlon Hudson (25), of Gary, Indiana, was shot and killed, and Deijine Shelton (29) of South Bend, was injured.

Mr. Hardy was charged with:
Count I: Murder, a felony
Count II: Battery by Means of a Deadly Weapon, a level 5 felony

On May 16, 2024, Mr. Hardy was found guilty of both counts.
The sentencing range for Murder is 45 to 65 years.
The sentencing range for a level 5 felony is 1-6 years.
Mr. Hardy will be sentenced on June 28, 2024.

 

Joseph Williams (39), of South Bend, was charged with one count for the November 4, 2023 death of Martinez Tennell Lambert (39), of South Bend.

Mr. Williams was charged with one count of Murder, a felony.

On May 15, 2024, he was found guilty of:
Count I: Murder, a felony

The sentencing range for Murder is 45 to 65 years.
Mr. Williams will be sentenced on June 12, 2024.

 

Steven William Kasznia (37), of South Bend, was charged with one count for the August 14 and 15 rape of an undisclosed victim.

Mr. Kasznia was charged with Rape, a Level 3 felony.

On May 16, Mr. Kasznia was found guilty of:
Count I: Rape, a level three felony.

The sentencing range for a level 3 felony is 3-16 years.
Mr. Kasznia will be sentenced on June 24, 2024.

 

Toro Tiant Franklin, Jr. (37), of South Bend, was charged with one count of Possession of a Narcotic Drug during a routine traffic stop on April 20, 2023.

Mr. Franklin was charged with:
Count I: Possession of a Narcotic Drug, a level 6 felony.

On May 17, 2024, Mr. Franklin was found guilty of:
Count I: Possession of a Narcotic
The sentencing range for a level 6 felony is 6 months to 2 and ½ years.
Mr. Franklin will be sentenced on July 16, 2024.