Henry Ruiz, 40, pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the state to a charge of possession of methamphetamine as a Level 6 Felony in Starke Circuit Court Friday, February 21.
Ruiz admitted in court that on May 28,2024, he was arrested on the charge after he was told to leave a Starke County residence and had to be removed by police. Police found him to be in possession of methamphetamine at the time of the incident.
Starke County Prosecuting Attorney Leslie Baker asked Starke Circuit Court Magistrate Micah Cox to accept the plea agreement negotiated with the defendant and the defendant’s attorney Richard Ballard. She noted that Ruiz was a high risk to re-offend and has a lengthy criminal history, but he has made an effort to address his substance abuse issues, make a plan, and maintain sobriety. He recently successfully completed an inpatient treatment program. The plea agreement allows Ruiz to continue with services from his pre-trial programming.
Ruiz told the court that he has dealt with addiction for a long time and he has been sober since his arrest. He has repaired some family relationships and is turning things around in his life.
Magistrate Cox commented that he was surprised in his successful completion of treatment and with that accepted the plea agreement. Ruiz was sentenced per the terms of that agreement that called for an 18-month sentence in the Indiana Department of Correction with all of the sentence suspended to be served on probation. He will need to follow all programming deemed appropriate by Starke County Court Services. Ruiz will pay a $250 drug interdiction fee. The court may modify the sentence at any time. As part of the plea agreement, other charges of possession of a narcotic drug and unlawful possession of a syringe were dismissed.
