Mother and Son Going to Trial in Starke Circuit Court

Starke County Courthouse
Starke County Courthouse
Medaryville residents Michael Wireman and Sadie Wireman are headed to trial and it will be determined at a hearing on Oct. 30 whether or not the pair will be tried at the same time.

Both Michael Wireman and Sadie Wireman’s cases were set for change of plea and sentencing hearings in Starke Circuit Court Wednesday morning. The court received a letter from both of them stating that they would not be pleading guilty in plea agreements and would like to go to trial.

Plea agreements were rejected for the pair on June 6 when Michael Wireman did not comply with the requirements with the probation department before his court hearing and Sadie Wireman claimed not to know what methamphetamine was. Judge Kim Hall said he would not accept a guilty plea from her if she didn’t know what the drug was in which she was allegedly in possession.

Richard Ballard is the attorney for the mother and son and moved that their trial be joined, but Prosecuting Attorney Nicholas Bourff objected. A hearing on the defendant’s motion to join cases for trial will be heard Oct. 30 at 3 p.m. in Starke Circuit Court. If the cases cannot be joined for trial, either Michael or Sadie Wireman’s trial will be held beginning at 9 a.m. CT on Nov. 6 with the other trial for Jan. 15 at 9 a.m. CT.

Judge Hall stated that he would not accept a plea agreement from either defendant after noon on Wednesday. The duo is facing felony methamphetamine-related charges.