Two Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court

Two defendants were sentenced in Starke Circuit Court Wednesday morning.

Matthew Howard, 21, of Knox, admitted to a probation violation that carried an 18 month sentence and pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the state on a charge of possession of methamphetamine as a Level 6 Felony.  Per the terms of the plea agreement, since he successfully completed the welding program in the Starke County Justice Center and is expected to report to work as a certified welder on Thursday of this week, the balance of his 18-month probation sentence in the felony count will be suspended. 

Howard added that he’s successfully completed other rehabilitation programs while incarcerated in the Starke County Jail. 

Judge Kim Hall accepted the plea agreement between Howard and the State with a provision that he must stay employed for the duration of his suspended sentence. 

Kristen Webb, 35, of Knox, admitted to a probation violation and pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the state to charges of possession of methamphetamine and neglect of a dependent, both Level 6 Felonies.  She admitted to Judge Kim Hall that she possessed the drug when searched during a traffic stop on June 25, 2018.  When police searched her residence at the time, her children were found to be living in the home that contained drug paraphernalia and drugs. 

Judge Kim Hall noted that Webb has taken considerable steps to turn her life around and the probation department evaluated her as a low risk to re-offend.  He accepted the plea agreement that calls for a total of 54 months in the Department of Corrections for the probation violation and the felony charge with all of the sentence to be suspended to be served on probation.