Brad Allen recently pled guilty in a plea agreement with the State to amended counts of possession of methamphetamine as a Level 4 Felony and unlawful carrying of a handgun as a Level 5 Felony in a plea and sentencing hearing in Starke Circuit Court.
Allen was arrested August 8, 2023 following a traffic stop in the area of 250 South and State Road 39 in Starke County.
The hearing revealed that in the time that Allen has been incarcerated, he successfully completed programming in the Starke County Justice Center to include MRT. It was noted that Allen has minimal criminal history.
Starke County Prosecuting Attorney Leslie Baker asked the court to enter judgment of conviction with a sentence of eight years in the Indiana Department of Correction on the charge of possession of methamphetamine and two years on the charge of unlawful carrying of a handgun. Those sentences would run concurrently, or at the same time. The state requested that five years be served on community corrections and that three years be suspended to be served on probation.
Defense Attorney Mark Chargaulaf noted that Allen has placement at a rehabilitation facility and has employment waiting for him. The defense requested a seven year sentence on the charge of possession of methamphetamine and three years on the charge of unlawful carrying of a handgun to be served concurrently. Chargaulaf requested that all the time remaining on his sentence be suspended to be served on probation. The defense also noted that the handgun found in this case was found in the glove compartment and it was not brandished or shown to the officer.
Starke Circuit Court Magistrate Micah Cox pointed out that Allen has responded well to treatment and to programming.
Cox sentenced Allen to five years on the charge of possession of methamphetamine and two years on the charge of unlawful carrying of a handgun to be served concurrently. The sentences were suspended to be served on probation. The Court ordered that, as a specific condition of probation, Allen shall complete programming at a rehabilitation facility.
All remaining counts in his case were dismissed.
