LaPorte Man Charged After Woman Suffers Permanent Loss Of Eye In Domestic Assault
Laporte- Michael M. Layton, 32, of LaPorte, is facing multiple felony charges after court documents allege he confined a woman without her consent, resulting in serious bodily injury to her.
According to the Probable Cause Affidavit, on January 18, 2026, at approximately 1:50 p.m., officers were dispatched regarding a reported violation of a protection order involving Layton and the protected party. Dispatch advised the incident occurred the prior day and involved an unreported domestic battery. Officers made contact with the victim’s father, who reported that on January 17, 2026, at approximately 5:30 p.m., his daughter contacted him requesting to be picked up in LaPorte after going to retrieve personal belongings.
The father observed her right eye to be nearly swollen shut. When questioned, she initially stated she had fallen; however, she later disclosed that Layton had assaulted her. She advised she did not initially contact police due to fear of being arrested for being near Layton, as an active no-contact protection order was in place.
The affidavit states Layton was present at the apartment when she arrived to pack her belongings. Layton asked to use her vehicle, and she allowed him to do so out of fear he would assault her again if she refused. She then left the residence and contacted her father for transportation. That evening, she complained of head pain and was given medication before going to bed.
On the morning of January 18, her condition had worsened and she was transported to a hospital in Mishawaka. Medical staff advised she had a mass near her brain and required immediate transfer to a hospital in Indianapolis for further treatment. After speaking with doctors, it was found that due to the injuries sustained to the eye, there was a large mass that needed to be removed from behind the eye. Due to this, doctors informed her that her left eye would also need to be removed.
Officers confirmed an active protection order prohibiting contact between Layton and the woman was in effect at the time of the incident.
On January 22, 2026, she was interviewed and stated that on December 31, 2025, while inside the residence, Layton, who was intoxicated, became upset and pushed her against a bedroom wall before striking her in the face. She stated she attempted to defend herself but Layton began punching her repeatedly with closed fists, causing her to fall onto a bed and then to the floor. She described experiencing disorientation and darkness during the battery.
She stated Layton continued to strike her in multiple areas of the residence, restricted her access to her cellular phone, and prevented her from leaving until her visible injuries improved. She also reported Layton made threats to further confine her, which caused her to fear for her safety and contributed to her delay in reporting the incident. Over the next two weeks, she tended to the injuries including her swollen eye, which regularly bled the first week and then started to excrete green puss.
At approximately 1:13 a.m. on January 22, the La Porte Police Department SWAT Team took Layton into custody. Investigators executed a search warrant and observed droplets of suspected blood throughout the interior of the apartment.
Layton was transported and interviewed. Layton claimed the injuries occurred during sexual intercourse and stated he attempted to treat her injuries himself before requesting an attorney.
Lodged in the Laporte County Jail.
Charges filed January 23,2026:
• Criminal Confinement resulting in serious bodily injury (Level 3 Felony)
• Aggravated Battery resulting in loss or impairment of a bodily function (Level 3 Felony)
• Domestic Battery resulting in serious bodily injury (Level 5 Felony)
• Invasion of Privacy – Violation of Protective Order (Class A Misdemeanor)
