TIPPECANOE COUNTY — Three years after the case was opened, a Tippecanoe County jury found a man not guilty on four neglect charges in connection to his adopted daughter.
Michael Barnett was acquitted of neglect of a dependent, neglect of a dependent resulting in bodily injury, neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury and conspiracy to commit neglect of a dependent.
Michael Barnett and his now ex-wife Kristine Barnett were both charged in September 2019 with multiple counts of neglect related to their adopted daughter Natalia, who came to the U.S. from Ukraine in 2010.
In 2012, the Barnetts, who have other children and are now divorced, had Natalia's age changed in Marion County Probate Court from her real age of eight to 22 and told the girl to say she was 22 if anyone asked.
Court documents claim the pair rented an apartment for Natalia in Lafayette in 2013 and left her there, alone, while they moved out of the country with the rest of the family.
Michael told detectives that his wife had told the child to tell others that she "looks young" but was actually 22, according to court documents,
In February 2022, four counts of neglect of a dependent were dismissed against Michael, online court records show.
The jury trial began on Oct. 24 after several delays.
PREVIOUS | Father claims adopted daughter was really an adult with dwarfism who tried to kill his family
WRTV's Rafael Sanchez spoke to Michael Barnett in October 2019.
Kristine's trial is scheduled to begin in February 2023, online court records show.
PREVIOUS: Attorney: Man accused of abandoning girl from Ukraine says adoption was a fraud | Indiana couple accused of abandoning adopted daughter and moving to Canada | Couple accused of abandoning young girl turn themselves in
-
Fundraiser underway to restore Indiana's oldest surviving theatre
Columbus is a hotspot of modern architecture, but a new campaign hopes to revive one of its oldest gems. The long-abandoned Crump Theatre could become a 700-seat concert venue.
Advocates turn the canal blue for Child Abuse Prevention Month
On Friday, dozens gathered to turn the downtown canal blue, all in an effort to raise awareness for Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Marion County Prosecutor's Office launches blue envelope project
The initiative aims to give support to people on the autism spectrum when interacting with law enforcement.
Making a difference one volunteer at a time: United Way's Go ALL IN Day
The annual volunteer event organized by United Way of Central Indiana saw over 1,000 volunteers come together to support more than 80 local nonprofits to make a lasting impact across the community.
