Inmate's allegations of abuse got the attention of Richard Allen's attorneys
Delphi murder suspect Richard Allen's attorneys want to speak with Robert P. Baston, the Westville prison inmate who alleged guards and inmates are tormenting the Allen, who is accused of killing teenagers Libby German and Abby Williams.
Allen's attorney, Brad Rozzi, filed a motion Thursday morning requesting a court order to expedite a meeting with Baston, who on April 28 filed a letter with the court alleging that the abuse.
Allen, 50, is charged with two counts of murder. He is accused of killing the Delphi teenagers on the north banks of the Deer Creek about a quarter-of-a-mile east of the Monon High Bridge on the afternoon of Feb. 13, 2017.
More: Court docket reveals how Delphi teens died, as well as witnesses' names
Allen was arrested Oct. 26 and has been in the Westville Correctional Facility's segregation for safe keeping since Nov. 2. He's being housed in the disciplinary isolation ward.
"Richard Allen is being abused and mistreated along with other inmates in the Westville Control Restrictive Unit Restrictive Housing," Baston wrote in his letter to the court.
"There are corrupt officers and ranking officers calling Richard Allen a kid killer, teasing him that he has a visit from his family, phone is ringing on his GTL-table …," Baston wrote.
Other inmates in nearby cells threatened to kill Allen and told him to kill himself, he wrote.
More: Delphi murder suspect Richard Allen documents unsealed and posted online
More: Westville inmate claims 'corrupt officers' have mistreated Richard Allen
Baston, a convicted child molester serving a 40-year sentence handed down in July 2010, alleges that the Warden, John Galipeau, and ranking officers and prison officers have witnessed other inmates threatening to kill Allen and have not taken steps to stop the threats.
When the Journal & Courier broke this story Wednesday, it contacted Galipeau and the DOC spokeswoman for comment. They never responded.
Baston's claims apparently piqued the attention of Allen's attorneys.
"Attorney Rozzi attempted to set up a visitation account to visit with Mr. Baston prior to the June 13 hearing, but was unable to do so as a result of some technical difficulties," Rozzi wrote in the motion.
Rozzi said a conversation with an attorney for the Department of Corrections suggested he get a court order to "streamline the process."
In the motion, Rozzi requests a private meeting with Baston, much as an attorney/client meeting at the prison.
Rozzi's motion indicates he tried to subpoena Baston for Allen's June 15 hearing at the Carroll County Courthouse, but Baston resisted and was not transported to the hearing, according to the motion.
Since Allen's hearing, Rozzi has received additional letters from Baston, whom Rozzi described as a potential witness in Allen's murder trial.
Special Judge Frances Gull has not yet published an order on Rozzi's motion.
Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Allegations of abuse got the attention of Richard Allen's attorneys
