Frank Esparza, Jr., 20, was sentenced on a charge of Dealing in a Narcotic Drug (Heroin), a Class A felony. Judge Kim Hall sentenced Esparza, Jr. to 30 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections with no part of the sentence suspended. If he is placed in a therapeutic community while in prison and he successfully completes the program, he may petition the court to modify his sentence after he serves 20 years of his sentence. As part of the plea agreement, charges of Possession of a Narcotic Drug, Maintaining a Common Nuisance and Possession of a Syringe were dropped.
Anthony Esparza, 25, pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the state to charges of Neglect of a Dependent as a Class C felony and Maintaining a Common Nuisance as a Class D felony. Judge Hall sentenced Esparza to four years in the Department of Corrections on the charge of Neglect of a Dependent with one year suspended. Anthony Esparza was also sentenced to 18 months in the DOC with no part of the sentence suspended on the charge of Maintaining a Common Nuisance. The two sentences will run concurrently, or at the same time. He will also serve probation for one year after his executed sentence.
The pair was arrested April 12 of this year after several law enforcement officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department and the Indiana State Police went to a 8810 E. Long Lane in Knox to serve an arrest warrant for narcotics.
