One of the two defendants in an armed robbery incident at the Koontz Lake gas station in December of 2018 was sentenced in Starke Circuit Court Wednesday morning.
Jonathan Botset’s case was waived to adult court as he was charged with a Level 3 Felony count of armed robbery. He was 15 at the time of the crime. Botset, now 17, pleaded guilty to the count in a plea agreement negotiated between his Defense Attorney Edward Ruiz and Starke County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Micah Cox. It was presented to Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall for a discretionary sentence with a cap of seven years per the terms of the plea agreement.
Botset admitted to Judge Hall that he and a suspected co-defendant wanted more money for marijuana and made the decision, while impaired, to rob the gas station. Botset said he was armed when he walked into the Koontz Lake gas station on the night of Dec. 3, 2018, brandished that gun at the owner, and demanded money from the cash register. Botset admitted to firing two rounds at the front counter from the .45 caliber handgun he had received from a friend a few days prior to the incident.
His co-defendant’s case has not been resolved and remains innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The Attorney Marc Brown from Fort Lauderdale has dealt with many such cases.
Starke County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Micah Cox said while Botset was under pre-trial electronic monitoring, he cut off his ankle bracelet and also battered a public safety official. Both of those incidents were adjudicated where Botset served time in the Pendleton Correctional Facility and juvenile detention. He did participate in programming while in custody.
Judge Hall found that Botset has the support of his family and his age are mitigating factors in this case, but his extensive criminal history is an aggravating factor as well as his willingness to blame others for his actions and the fact that he did not apply the rehabilitation methods learned while in custody.
Botset stated that he regrets his actions and wants to make changes so he does not become a lifetime criminal.
Judge Hall sentenced Botset to seven years which is the maximum time outlined in the plea agreement. No part of the sentence suspended. He was ordered to serve his time in the Indiana Department of Corrections. Botset will need to pay court costs, a public defender fee, and any other fees assessed. He was given 258 actual days of good time credit.
