Cross Plains Man Convicted of Attempted Murder Gets 40 Years

The charge stems from an incident in January 2024 at a Madison residence.

Mark Swafford.

(Jefferson County, Ind.) - Mark Swafford was in court this week to receive sentencing stemming from an incident where he shot his daughter's boyfriend at a Madison residence. 

Swafford was sentenced to 40 years by Jefferson Circuit Court Judge D.J. Mole, following his conviction for Attempted Murder (Level 1 Felony). 

The charges stem from an altercation on January 6, 2024, in which Swafford shot his daughter's boyfriend in the back of the neck. 

The investigation, led by Madison Police, uncovered that Swafford was intoxicated when he entered the victim's residence and initiated an argument. Investigators say the incident quickly escalated into violence and Swafford pushed the victim down on a couch before he pulled out a Taurus Judge pistol from his waistband and shot the victim. The shooting took place in front of Swafford’s daughter and 7-month-old grandchild.

The victim was transported to Norton King’s Daughters’ Hospital for treatment of his injuries and has since recovered. Swafford fled the scene and led law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit through Ripley County before he lost control and flipped his vehicle. 

“This case is a sobering reminder of the impact of violent crime and the importance of coordinated efforts by law enforcement,” said Prosecutor David Sutter. “We extend our gratitude to all the officers, investigators, and agencies who worked tirelessly to bring this matter to a conclusion.”

Swafford will serve 35 years executed at the Indiana Department of Correction, followed by five years on supervised probation.