BEDFORD – Lawrence Superior Court II Judge Robert Cline ordered two men to the Indiana Department of Correction on December 4, 2025, after both failed to adhere to the court-ordered terms of their probation.
While the original convictions for the two men differed significantly—ranging from drug possession to murder—the court’s ruling emphasized a shared theme of accountability for those who fail to comply with the justice system.
Probation Revoked in 2015 Murder Case
Dillon M. Hicks, 27, of Bedford, was ordered to serve 1,820 days in prison after he violated his probation. Hicks was originally sentenced in December 2015 for murder and conspiracy to commit burglary.
Dillon Hicks was the last of three people to plead guilty in November 2015 to the murder of 43-year-old Rodney Allender. Also involved and who pleaded guilty were Taylor Flynn and Austin Curtis. Allender’s body was discovered by a relative in the garage of his northeastern Lawrence County home in February 2014. An autopsy determined Allender died from head trauma by blunt force.
Hicks received a total of 65 years, with 5 years suspended to be served on supervised probation.
While still on probation, Hicks committed a new criminal offense in Madison County: battery resulting in serious bodily injury, a Level 5 Felony.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Arthur Pearcy noted that despite the defendant’s murder conviction, he continued to engage in violence behind bars. “Every act of violence must be met with accountability,” Pearcy stated.
Failure to Report Leads to Prison for Bloomington Man
In a separate matter, Kevin R. Sexton, 57, of Bloomington, was sentenced to 750 days in the Indiana Department of Correction. Sexton had previously pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony, in May 2025.
Sexton was originally sentenced to 800 days, with the majority of that time suspended in exchange for 545 days of supervised probation.
The court found that Sexton failed to meet his obligations by not reporting to probation, failing to maintain contact, and failing to appear in another pending felony case.
“Probation only works when a defendant is willing to meet their obligations,” said Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Pearcy. He emphasized that Sexton’s choices made it clear he had no intention of complying with the court’s orders.
“The message today is simple: if you choose violence [or non-compliance], you will face the full force of the justice system,” said Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Pearcy.
