David Spohn Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court

David Spohn

A Starke man was sentenced in Starke Circuit Court Thursday afternoon after a jury found him guilty of domestic battery as a Level 6 felony in a jury trial earlier this month.

The jury found that David Spohn battered his then-wife after an argument in their home on May 30, 2017. He punched her in the head, causing her to fall. He then held her down and continued to hit her resulting in a fracture in her back and a contusion on one of her ribs. This incident was witnessed by a child.

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Jason Cooke Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court

Jason Cooke was sentenced in Starke Circuit Court Monday afternoon.

Cooke pleaded guilty in an amended plea agreement to count of robbery as a Level 2 felony. Cooke admitted to robbing Sescoe Wireman of Knox of money, prescription medication, an Indiana ID card, and multiple credit cards. Cooke hit Wireman during the robbery causing severe injury. Wireman was hospitalized and later died. The incident happened on or about Oct. 6, 2015, at Wireman’s home in the 100 block of East 500 South in Knox.

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Jerry Leonard Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court

Jerry Leonard

A Knox man was sentenced in Starke Circuit Court on Thursday morning on two counts of child molesting as a Class A felony.

Jerry Leonard, 37, was sentenced on one count of child molesting to 30 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections with 10 years of the sentence suspended. On the second count of child molesting, Leonard was sentenced to 30 years in the DOC with 10 years of the sentence suspended. The sentences will run concurrently, or at the same time. After he serves his time in the DOC, he will serve his suspended sentence on probation.

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Two Sentenced on Battery Charges

Two offenders were sentenced in Starke Circuit Court Wednesday morning on battery charges in two separate cases.

Scott Tharpe, 35, of Plymouth, pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the state to a felony charge of battery of a person less than the age of 14. Tharpe admitted to Judge Kim Hall that on July 12, 2016, at a residence in Knox he threw his nephew on the ground and pushed his face in the dirt. He also pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the state to a misdemeanor charge of resisting law enforcement. Tharpe admitted to resisting arrest from Officer Clint Norem in the same incident. Continue reading

Knox Man Sentenced to Prison for Burglary

 A Knox man who pleaded guilty to burglary in connection with a break-in at a friend’s home last January was sentenced to 10 years in prison for that offense with none of that sentence suspended. Glenn Manns, 29, was also ordered to pay $250 in restitution to Arthur Norem, Jr. Court documents indicate Manns and James Royce stole copper, automobile parts, shotguns, a rifle, bows, knives and other items from Norem’s home. Royce has already been sentenced to 20 years in the Department of Corrections. Continue reading

Reyes Sentenced to 17 Years in DOC

 A Grovertown man was sentenced to serve 17 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections during a hearing in Starke Circuit Court yesterday.

Ryan Reyes, 19, pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the state to two counts of child molesting as a Class B felony in two separate cases and criminal mischief as a Class D felony in a separate case.

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Marshall County Judge Sentences Man to 20 Years on Burglary Charge

Jeffrey Lusch
Jeffrey Lusch

A Fort Wayne area man was sentenced to 20 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to a charge of burglary.

Jeffrey Lusch, 58, admitted to Marshall County Superior Court No. 1 Judge Robert O. Bowen that broke into and entered a home on Baker Street in Plymouth on June 28, 2013 and was discovered by the homeowner. Lusch had entered the home through a window and the homeowner was in the basement at the time. The homeowner emerged from the basement and found Lusch inside the home. He then fled from the residence with the homeowner in pursuit and on the phone to police. Plymouth police officers were able to respond quickly and apprehended Lusch.

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Two Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court

 Two defendants were sentenced in Starke Circuit Court on Wednesday.

Carter Scutchfield pleaded guilty to an amended charge of receiving stolen auto parts as a Class D felony. The sentence was presented as an agreed recommendation to Judge Kim Hall. Per that recommendation, Scutchfield was sentenced to 26 months in the Indiana Department of Corrections with no part of the sentence suspended.

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Two Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court

 A man was sentenced in Starke Circuit Court on Wednesday on two charges after a battery incident in North Judson on March 15.

Michael Hanley, Jr., 30, of North Judson pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the state in September to a charge of criminal confinement as a Class C felony and residential entry as a Class D felony. He admitted in open court to entering the home of a North Judson man without consent and blocking the door so he couldn’t leave while a co-defendant allegedly battered the victim. The co-defendant’s case is still pending a resolution as he participates in drug rehab.

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Obomsawin Sentenced to Six Years in DOC

 A South Bend man was sentenced Tuesday morning in Starke Circuit Court after pleading guilty to an amended count of child molesting as a Class C felony.

A plea recommendation was offered in the case of Adam Obomsawin which Judge Kim Hall accepted. Judge Hall sentenced Obomsawin, 36, to six years in the Indiana Department of Corrections with two years suspended to be served on probation. In addition, Obomsawin was ordered to undergo sex offender treatment. Upon the successful completion of that course, he may petition the court for a modification of the sentence. He is to have no contact with the victim during the execution of his sentence.

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Gayheart Sentenced to 20 Years on Drug Charges

  A Starke County man was sentenced in Starke Circuit Court Monday morning on several drug charges.

Corbin Gayheart pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the state to three charges in two separate cases. Judge Kim Hall accepted the plea agreement and sentenced Gayheart per the terms of that agreement.

Gayheart will serve 10 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections with two years suspended on a charge of possession of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a public park as a Class B felony. He was given an 18-month sentence with no part of the sentence suspended on a charge of possession of precursors or chemical reagents with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine as a Class D felony. Those sentences will run concurrently, or at the same time.

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Several Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court

 Several defendants were sentenced in Starke Circuit Court Thursday morning.

Devin Trusty pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the State to a charge of operating a vehicle with a lifetime suspension. Magistrate Jeanene Calabrese accepted the plea agreement which called for a sentence of three years in the Indiana Department of Corrections with no part of the sentence suspended. While incarcerated, trusty will participate in a therapeutic community. If he successfully completes the CLIFF or GRIP program, he may petition the court for a modification of his sentence.

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Knox Man Pleads Guilty but Mentally Ill

 A Knox man pleaded guilty but mentally ill to two charges in Starke Circuit Court Thursday morning.

Frank Solberg, 44, pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the state to charges of intimidation as a Class C felony and interference with reporting a crime as a misdemeanor. He admitted in open court that he threatened the life of his mother with a butcher knife if she were to call the police at the height of an argument. He also admitted that he ripped the telephone off the wall so she could not dial 911 to seek help from law enforcement.

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Walkerton Woman Sentenced to Ten Years in DOC

Courtney Owens
Courtney Owens

A Walkerton woman was sentenced in Marshall Superior Court after admitting to possessing heroin in her apartment located in Culver.

She pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of heroin within 1,000 feet of a housing complex. She was sentenced by Judge Robert O. Bowen to ten years in the Indiana Department of Corrections on that charge. Owens was additionally sentenced to a year-and-a-half in prison on a charge of neglect of a dependent in an unrelated case. The sentences will run concurrently, or at the same time, and she was ordered to undergo intensive drug treatment in the purposeful incarceration program.

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Man Pleads Guilty to Manufacturing Methamphetamine in Car

Gary Beatty
Gary Beatty

A man was sentenced in Marshall Superior Court 1 on Wednesday after he pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the state on a charge of manufacturing methamphetamine while traveling in a vehicle.

Gary Beatty, 27, admitted in court that on Sept. 17, 2013 he was manufacturing methamphetamine in his vehicle. A concerned citizen notified police of suspicious activity inside the vehicle and a traffic stop was initiated after a Marshall County deputy found that the license plate number returned to a different vehicle and it was expired. Beatty could not supply the officer with a valid registration and current insurance. As a result, the vehicle was impounded.

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Heeter Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison

Amanda Heeter
Amanda Heeter

Plymouth woman was sentenced to 10 years in the Indiana Department Corrections after pleading guilty in a plea agreement with the state to charges of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and neglect of a dependent.

Amanda Heeter admitted to Judge Robert O. Bowen in Marshall Superior Court 1 that she conspired with two other defendants to manufacture methamphetamine in her home on Loon Court in Plymouth. She also admitted that the act of manufacturing methamphetamine placed a dependent child in danger.

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