John Brooke’s Trial to Begin Today

Posted on Author WKVI
Brooke

The trial of John Brooke, who was reportedly involved in an incident at Bass Lake in February of 2010, begins today in Starke Circuit Court. Brooke is facing seven charges against him. The trial begins at 9:00 a.m. in Judge Kim Hall’s courtroom. A jury of eight men and four women was seated on Friday.

Brooke was supposed to be on trial with Kimberly Hitchens but in a surprise development, Hitchens had charges of Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery and Possession/Manufacturing of a Destructive Device dismissed by the State of Indiana. She plead guilty to one charge of Aiding and Assisting a Criminal, a Class D felony. A sentencing hearing has not been set at this time.

Starke Circuit Court Judge Rejects Plea Agreement for Kimberly Hitchens; Trial Set for April 8th

Posted on Author WKVI
Kimberly Hitchens

Kimberly Hitchens appeared in Starke Circuit Court Wednesday morning for a plea hearing. Hitchens was reportedly involved in events surrounding the Bass Lake shooting incident with Starke County police that also involved Michael Drogosz and John Brooke. She has been charged with Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery, two counts of Possession/Manufacturing of a Destructive Device (aiding), and Assisting a Criminal.

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Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall Sentences Rodney Craft; Gary McCormick

Posted on Author WKVI
Rodney Craft

Rodney Craft was sentenced in Starke Circuit Court this (Thursday) morning.

Craft plead guilty in a plea agreement to Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Marijuana with a Prior Conviction, Possession of Methamphetamine, Failure to Appear, Escape, and Possession of Chemical Reagents or Precursors with the Intent to Manufacture Methamphetamine. All charges stem from several different criminal cases in Starke County. Judge Kim Hall sentenced Craft to 10 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections. His Starke County sentence will run consecutively with a sentence handed down in Pulaski County Circuit Court on Tuesday, March 15th. He had plead guilty to Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Cocaine and Possession of Chemical Reagents or Precursors with the Intent to Manufacture Methamphetamine. He received a sentence of four years on all counts. In all, he will serve 14 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections.

Gary McCormick

Judge Hall also sentenced Gary McCormick in Circuit Court this morning. In an amended plea agreement, McCormick agreed to plead guilty to an amended charge of Sexual Battery and a charge of Strangulation. Judge Hall accepted the plea agreement and sentenced McCormick to three years on each charge. He will serve six years with none suspended in the DOC.

Starke Circuit Court Judge Sentences Two in Proceedings Friday

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall sentenced two in court Friday morning.

Amber Bottorff

Judge Hall accepted a plea agreement submitted for Amber Bottorff where she plead guilty to a charge of Maintaining a Common Nuisance, a Class D Felony. As part of the agreement, a charge of Dealing in Methamphetamine, a Class B Felony was dropped. As part of her sentence, she will serve 18 months on home detention.

On December 31st, 2010, North Judson Police were requested to assist the Starke County Community Corrections team while they were conducting a home inspection. After checking on a detainee in the 5900 block of U-road, officers made a discovery of an active Methamphetamine Lab. North Judson Officer, Mat Anderson, arrested Amber Rae Bottorff, 21, of North Judson for Manufacturing of Methamphetamine and Maintaining a Common Nuisance.

Erica Bailey

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Starke County Prosecutor Faces Unique Situation

Posted on Author WKVI
Nicholas Bourff

New Starke County Prosecutor Nicholas Bourff is facing a ticklish situation as he is getting his feet on the ground in the office. His Chief Deputy, Todd Wallsmith, cannot appear before Judge Kim Hall in Starke Circuit Court. That is because Judge Hall is Wallsmith’s uncle. So, how does the new Prosecutor plan to work around this obstacle?

“There are some issues there,” said Bourff. “It’s going to take some work and some creativity on my part to make that work, but there are a lot of cases that get handled in the City Court here in Knox and those are cases that are dealt with County-wide. Todd can handle any case that is dealt with there.”

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