Earl Beem Jr. Sentenced to Two Amended Counts Following Guilty Pleas in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

On Monday, November 20th 35-year-old Earl Beem, Jr. appeared in Starke Circuit Court where he pleaded guilty to two counts; Amended Count I: Conspiracy to Commit Dealing in Methamphetamine and Amended Count II: Conspiracy to Commit Trafficking with an Inmate.

The individuals who were also in court for the case were the defendant’s attorney Nathan Pearson, Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Mary Ryan, Honorable Judge Kim Hall, as well as the Deputy Sheriff and the Court Reporter. According to a plea and sentencing order provided by Court Reporter Delainah Hewlett, prior to the defendant’s plea, The Court discussed the specifics of the plea agreement and the defendant’s rights.

The document indicates that the Court took the guilty pleas under advisement until the sentencing hearing. Parties waived adjournment and continued with the sentencing hearing. The defendant and the counsel were each given an opportunity to present evidence and/or arguments.

According to the information provided, The Court, being duly advised and having considered the matters of record, arguments of counsel and the Pre-sentence Investigation Report, accepted the pleas of guilty and the Plea Agreement and entered a judgment of conviction against the defendant for both amended counts.

Earl Beem Jr. [Picture Provided from Starke County Sheriff’s Department Inmate Roster]
The Court imposed no fine but ordered Beem to pay court costs. The court then reviewed the potential aggravating and mitigating factors of the case. Legally, mitigating circumstances are defined as factors that work in favor of the defendant and aggravating circumstances support a stiffer penalty.

The aggravating factors against Beem included that he has a prior criminal history, has violated probation on numerous occasions and was provided drug treatment opportunities in the past and either failed to learn or failed to apply the lessons he was taught once he was given the opportunity. The Court found no mitigating factors.

Therefore, for the first amended count of Conspiracy to Commit Dealing in Methamphetamine, a Level 4 Felony, Beem was sentenced to the Indiana Department of Corrections of a period of ten years. For the second amended count, Conspiracy to Commit Trafficking with an Inmate, a Level 5 Felony, he was sentenced to the IDOC for a period of four years.

The report goes on to indicate that the sentences imposed shall run concurrently with each other and neither sentence imposed is suspended. The defendant shall pay a $250 drug interdiction fee and waives the right to challenge the reasonableness of the sentence received on the basis that it is erroneous.