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East Chicago councilman pleads not guilty to murder charge

Posted November 17, 2015 6:00 am

The Associated Press

HAMMOND, Ind. (AP) - An East Chicago councilman charged with murder has pleaded not guilty at an arraignment hearing in federal court.

The (Munster) Times reports (http://bit.ly/1X6klyj) 42-year-old Robert Battle entered the plea Tuesday. He is accused of shooting Reimundo Camarillo Jr. to death on Oct. 12 in East Chicago while involved in cocaine trafficking. He also faces a federal drug charge after police say they found more than 73 pounds of marijuana and more than $100,000 cash during a Porter County traffic stop.

Battle, who was running unopposed, was re-elected Nov. 3. He received 308 votes despite the charges against him.

U.S. District Magistrate Judge Paul Cherry ordered Battle to remain in custody. The judge scheduled a detention hearing for Dec. 9.

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