Published: June 26, 2009 02:22 pm      

Trial date set for murder suspect

DANVILLE — Joseph Warnock entered a plea of not guilty during an initial hearing Wednesday morning in Superior Court 1 at the Hendricks County Courthouse.

Warnock, 41, is being charged with murder in the stabbing death of his estranged wife, Angela, 38. He will have a pre-trial hearing on Sept. 3, followed by a jury trial on Oct. 6. Warnock is also charged with a class A misdemeanor for violating a no contact order.

Warnock, who had yet to hire an attorney, was read the charges by Judge Robert W. Freese. Warnock said he was going to hire an attorney, and Freese gave him 20 days to do so.

Hendricks County Prosecutor Patricia Baldwin said that the case will be proved by the evidence that is provided.

“The sheriff’s department and other departments have helped and have a lot of evidence that they have gathered,” Baldwin said. “This was obviously a very serious crime. We take the issues of murder and domestic violence very seriously.”

If found guilty of the murder charge, Warnock could face a maximum of 65 years in prison and a $10,000 fine, or a minimum of 45 years in prison. The misdemeanor charge holds a maximum sentence of one year in prison with a $5,000 fine, and a minimum of no jail time and no fine.

Police were sent to the house at 10450 Splendor Way after they received a 911 call from Warnock’s 8- and 12-year-old daughters. Authorities say the girls were present during the stabbing and were able to identify Warnock as the suspect.

Freese on Wednesday ordered that Warnock have no contact with his children. They are currently staying with a relative.

After a search that included the use of police dogs, Warnock was apprehended without incident by an off-duty night security officer at the Eagle Crossing subdivision.

Angela Warnock had filed for a protective order against her husband in May.

“Protective orders have their limitations and are only a tool,” Baldwin said. “They do allow things like police to make arrests if they continue to make contact with the person. But a protective order is not going to be some type of protective shield that will physically protect you against a person who wants to do you harm.”

Angela Warnock worked at a Brownsburg beauty salon, while Joseph Warnock sold tanning beds and coached his daughter’s basketball team.

“This is an example that this can happen in any area of society,” Baldwin said.

Baldwin also verified that neighbors had reported that Warnock had been drinking in the past.

“We are always looking for something like that to explain why a person acted the way that they did,” she said. “Obviously you look at things like alcohol, drug abuse, financial issues, or anything that might be going on in these cases.”

Warnock is being held at the Hendricks County Jail in Danville and no bond has been set. Baldwin said that is routine for a murder case.

ryan.palencer@flyergroup.com