Jerry Leonard Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court

Jerry Leonard

A Knox man was sentenced in Starke Circuit Court on Thursday morning on two counts of child molesting as a Class A felony.

Jerry Leonard, 37, was sentenced on one count of child molesting to 30 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections with 10 years of the sentence suspended. On the second count of child molesting, Leonard was sentenced to 30 years in the DOC with 10 years of the sentence suspended. The sentences will run concurrently, or at the same time. After he serves his time in the DOC, he will serve his suspended sentence on probation.

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Starke County Closer to First Non-DOC Therapeutic Drug Treatment Program

Starke County Justice CenterStarke County may soon be home to a drug treatment program that is currently only available through the state Department of Corrections.

The Therapeutic Community Program is considered by some to be one of the most effective drug treatment programs in the state of Indiana. The program provides 1,700 available spaces throughout the Hoosier state for an eight month course, designed to treat and rehabilitate drug offenders.

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Legislation Would Allow Inmates E-mail Access

DermodyLegislation sponsored by State Representative Tom Dermody will be signed into law.

According to a press release from the LaPorte Republican’s offices, the legislation would allow for additional options for prison inmates to correspond with their families. The Indiana Department of Corrections is required to provide necessary items to send mail through the postal service.

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Pulaski County Jail Impresses State Inspectors

The Pulaski County Jail underwent an inspection last week by an inspector from the Indiana Department of Corrections.

In his report, Lee Hoard said that Sheriff Michael Gayer, Commander Phillip Cherry and the staff are to be commended on the maintenance of the jail. The jail is clean and the staff are professional and receptive to suggestions and recommendations. The offenders were interviewed and stated that the felt safe in the facility, the food was good and the staff treated them well. The only recommendation made was to provide two dates on leftover food: date in and date out.

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