A 12-member jury returned a guilty verdict in a one day trial in Starke Circuit Court Wednesday, January 22.
Jamayl Wash was charged with possession of a narcotic drug as a Level 4 Felony, possession of marijuana as a Class B Misdemeanor, and driving while suspended as a Class A Infraction.
Former Starke County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Ethan Biggs testified that he was tending to a disabled vehicle on the side of the road on U.S. 30 August 5, 2021 when a vehicle nearly hit him as he returned to his vehicle. He pursued the vehicle and saw the vehicle change lanes without a proper signal. A traffic stop was then conducted near the intersection with 600 East.
During that traffic stop, the driver and lone occupant of the vehicle, identified as Jamayl Wash, produced a State I.D. and the officer testified that he saw in plain sight what he believed to be marijuana blunts in the center console. He deployed his K9 to do a free air sniff of the vehicle and the dog alerted to the presence of narcotics, according to his testimony. He further told the jury that Starke County Sheriff’s Department deputy Daniel Byrd assisted at the scene and helped search the vehicle. Byrd testified that two cigarette boxes were found in the vehicle’s glove box that contained baggies of a brown powdery substance. The evidence was secured at the Starke County Sheriff’s Office evidence locker.
Indiana State Police Drug Unit Lab Technician Brittany Borzych testified that she analyzed the samples in the first quarter of 2024 and testified that the substance was identified as fentanyl and heroin. The baggies weighed 10.85 grams and 1.30 grams, respectively.
Wash did not testify.
The charges of possession of marijuana as a Class B Misdemeanor, and driving while suspended as a Class A Infraction were dismissed as a result of a directed verdict. The jury returned in about 30 minutes with a guilty verdict on the charge of possession of a narcotic drug as a Level 4 Felony. A Level 4 Felony carries a sentence of 2 to 12 years with an advisory sentence of 6 years.
Starke County Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Matt Poulos represented the State of Indiana in this trial. Wash was represented by Defense Attorney Alex Hoover. Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall presided over the trial.
Sentencing will be held Wednesday, February 19 at 11 a.m. CT in Starke Circuit Court.
