A Monticello man pleaded guilty in a plea agreement last week in Starke Circuit Court on a charge of dealing in methamphetamine as a Level 2 Felony.
Josh Muzik, 27, admitted to Starke Circuit Judge Kim Hall that on Jan. 29 of this year, he had several hundred grams of methamphetamine in his possession when police conducted a traffic stop in a vehicle he was in while traveling through Starke County from buying the drugs for several thousand dollars in South Bend for another individual. In exchange, he would get a little bit of the product for use.
Muzik was sentenced per the terms of the plea agreement negotiated between Defense Attorney Timothy Lemon and Starke County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Micah Cox. The sentence was argued before the judge and he would determine the sentence with a cap of 15 years.
Muzik stated that he was remorseful for his actions prior to sentencing.
Judge Hall noted that Muzik has an extensive criminal history and ordered the maximum sentence on the charge of dealing in methamphetamine as a Level 2 Felony. Muzik will serve 15 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections with no part of the sentence suspended. The sentence will be for purposeful incarceration so Muzik can get the resources needed to change habits. Muzik could return to the Starke County Justice Center to go through the programming, if accepted. If he successfully completes an intensive drug treatment program, he may petition the court for a modification of his sentence, although Judge Hall said it is not a guarantee that the sentence will be modified.
