Man charged in death of 17-month-old submits plea agreement

The Dubois County Circuit Court will make a decision on a proposed plea agreement with the man accused in the death of 17-month old in 2014.

Charles M. Hopf, 22, of Dewey Street, agreed to plead guilty to a Level 1 felony charge of aggravated battery that resulted in the death of child under 14. If the state will agree to drop the murder charge that was added in October of 2015,  Hopf will serve a 40-year sentence with the Indiana Department of Corrections for the Level 1 felony.

A 40-year sentence is the maximum sentence for a Level 1 felony whereas murder is punishable with a sentence up to 65 years.

The plea agreement was signed by Hopf on December 29 and he appeared in court on Tuesday to present it to Judge Nathan Verkamp. Verkamp took the plea under advisement and will make a formal ruling on it and sentencing on February 4.

If the plea is accepted, Hopf would be required to serve 75 percent of the 40-year sentence in the IDOC.

The Jasper Police Department arrested Hopf on December 20, 2014 after 17-month-old Xavier Miller was brought to the emergency room at Memorial Hospital at about 12:30 a.m. According to police, Xavier suffered from severe burns to his face, cuts to his upper lip, bite marks on his arm, and a severe brain injury.

At 7:09 a.m. that day, Xavier died while being treated for a brain injury at Kosair Children’s Hospital in Louisville. The death was ruled a homicide by blunt force trauma by the Jefferson County, Ky. medical examiner who conducted the autopsy.

Hopf has remained lodged at the Dubois County Security Center since his arrest December 20, 2014.