SOUTH BEND — Jurors heard opening arguments Tuesday in the trial of St. Joseph County Community Corrections Director Susan Hancock and her husband, Michael Hancock.

The Hancocks each are accused of receiving stolen musical instruments, at least one of which showed up for sale on the online auction site eBay.

Susan Hancock is on unpaid leave until the situation is resolved. Her name is still on the wall near her office, across the hall from Judge John Marnocha’s courtroom, where the trial is taking place.

During opening arguments, Chief Deputy Prosecutor Mark Roule told the seven-member jury that authorities “found enough instruments and accessories that they needed a county dump truck to transport the instruments from the residence and into storage.”

Some of the instruments were valued at nearly $4,800, Roule said, and belonged to Conn-Selmer Inc., an Elkhart-based musical instrument maker.

Roule said during the trial, which is expected to last through Thursday, jurors will hear testimony from a Conn-Selmer official, police officers who served a search warrant on the Hancocks’ Mishawaka home in 2007 and audiotapes of interviews with Susan and Michael Hancock.

At issue is whether one or both of the Hancocks knew the instruments were stolen property — something Michael Hancock’s attorney, André Gammage, doesn’t believe the state will be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt.

Gammage told jurors Conn-Selmer had poor control over its inventory and that his client had permission to have the items found in his home.
William Stanley, representing Susan Hancock, told the jury that evidence presented against one defendant might not apply to the other, and to be sure to differentiate.

“Please keep in mind we’re talking about two completely different individuals,” he said.

He also urged jurors to focus on three words when considering Susan Hancock’s guilt or innocence: “knowledge, love and trust.”

Stanley said after adjournment that he couldn’t comment on the case, and he didn’t elaborate on why he drew such a sharp distinction between Susan and Michael Hancock.

Gammage said the two defense attorneys are absolutely not working against each other, and that Stanley’s statements are a normal instruction given to juries.

A third defendant, Ross Yoder, was scheduled to face trial with the Hancocks on the same charge, but he pleaded guilty earlier in the day.

As Yoder entered his plea, he admitted having the instruments in his home and said Michael Hancock picked them up. Yoder said he had never met Susan Hancock. He is scheduled to be sentenced July 1.

Attorneys for Susan and Michael Hancock, meanwhile, said their clients would not comment on the case to reporters. Proceedings resume today at noon.

Staff writer Ed Ronco: eronco@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6353