Anderson man sentenced to 45 years for brutal attack on neighbor

ANDERSON, Ind. (WISH) — An Anderson man convicted after breaking into his neighbor’s apartment and brutally beating him in 2024 will spend 45 years in prison, a Madison County judge ruled Tuesday.

According to prosecutors, in November 2024, James Peavler, 40, broke into a next-door-neighbor’s apartment and started beating him up until “he got so tired from doing it.”

When officers arrived, they said both men were injured.

The victim told police at the scene he’d been drinking with a friend and when he came home to shower, he heard someone knocking and kicking at the door.

He got out of the shower to investigate and when he approached the door, Peavler kicked it in and the assault began, eventually moving from his living room to the bedroom.

But when Peavler spoke to detectives, he flipped the narrative. According to court documents, Peavler claimed it was the victim who broke into his apartment and attacked him.

Peavler changed his story several times, saying he and the victim were originally at a bar and the victim started the fight at the apartment. Peavler also claimed the fight was a continuation of another brawl that ended in Peavler pushing the victim down a flight of stairs.

Police also say Peavler was “very aggressive and hostile” towards them, and also said he was glad the victim was in the hospital.

Peavler was convicted in June for burglary resulting in serious bodily injury and battery resulting in serious bodily injury. His sentence was enhanced as he is a habitual offender.

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