VINCENNES — A 20-year-old Washington, Indiana, man has been sentenced to 40 years in prison in connection with two separate shooting incidents, including the July 2024 fatal shooting of a Vincennes resident.
Knox Superior Court 1 Judge Gara Lee handed down the sentence to Calvin James Wittmer, 20, following a resolution in his criminal cases.
Judge Lee sentenced Wittmer to 20 years for voluntary manslaughter in the death of James Mischler, of Vincennes. Wittmer received an additional 20 years for criminal recklessness and a firearm sentencing enhancement, bringing his total prison term to 40 years.
Background of the July 2024 Shooting
The primary charges stem from an early morning shooting on July 24, 2024. Vincennes Police officers were dispatched around 12:35 a.m. to the 1300 block of North 14th Street following reports of gunfire.
Upon arrival, first responders located James Mischler, who had suffered a fatal gunshot wound. Wittmer, who was 18 years old at the time of the incident, fled the scene prior to police arrival.
Witness statements gathered by law enforcement at the scene indicated that Wittmer had been present during the shooting and that Mischler had been described by acquaintances as a paternal figure to Wittmer.
Following an immediate investigation, officers tracked Wittmer to a residence on Canbro Street in Vincennes, where police surrounded the home until Wittmer surrendered to authorities. During a subsequent search of the premises, officers recovered a 9mm Glock handgun equipped with an extended magazine hidden in the basement, matching the weapon described by witnesses.
Additional Charges and Resolution
Wittmer was initially charged with murder in Knox Superior Court 1, where he was held without bond. The case concluded with a conviction on a reduced charge of voluntary manslaughter alongside the criminal recklessness and firearm enhancement counts.
Following the sentencing, Wittmer will serve his 40-year term under the custody of the Indiana Department of Correction.
