The sentencing hearing for Jamayl Wash held Wednesday, February 19 was continued in Starke Circuit Court.
Jamayl Wash, 30, was found guilty of possession of a narcotic drug as a Level 4 Felony in a one day trial in Starke Circuit Court Wednesday, January 22.
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. Testimony by Starke County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Daniel Byrd revealed that a subsequent search of the vehicle found two cigarette boxes in the vehicle’s glove box that contained baggies of a brown powdery substance which was identified as fentanyl and heroin.
In Wednesday’s hearing, Starke County Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Matt Poulos said Wash does not have an extensive criminal history, but the amount of drugs found in his possession at the time of the incident was a concern in the State’s perspective. He recommended that Wash be sentenced to the advisory sentence of six years for a Level 4 Felony in the Indiana Department of Correction and that he enroll in the Recovery while Incarcerated program to seek treatment for drug addiction.
Wash’s defense attorney Alex Hoover noted that rehabilitation would be recommended with the sentence and that two years be served on probation and to see where he is with his recovery process.
Wash told Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall that he attempted to seek drug treatment but had an issue with insurance at a rehabilitation facility in Bloomington. That issue caused a violation of his bond so he was arrested on a warrant. He said he used herion daily and believes that treatment would help in his path in life.
Judge Hall agreed to continue the sentencing hearing to Wednesday, March 19 at 11 a.m. CT in Starke Circuit Court in order to research more into recovery facilities so Wash can get the full rehabilitation he needs as part of his sentence.
