A Starke County man found guilty of domestic battery has had his prison sentence affirmed by an appellate court. David Spohn had appealed the two-and-a-half-year sentence given by Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall, arguing that it was “inappropriate in light of his character and the nature of the offense.”
Murder Trial to Begin Monday in Starke Circuit Court
A pre-trial motions and instructions hearing was held in Starke Circuit Court on Friday ahead of a murder trial set to begin on Monday morning.
Starke County Officials Learn Science Behind Addition at Statewide Opioid Summit
Combating Indiana’s opioid crisis was the goal of a summit this week in Indianapolis. Hundreds of criminal justice leaders from around the state took part in the event, including Starke County Court Services Director Shawn Mattraw. Continue reading
Hominger Sentenced on Drug Dealing Charges
A plea agreement accepted by Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall will send a drug dealer to prison.
Dollahan Sentencing Continued
A sentencing hearing held Wednesday morning for a man found guilty by a jury on charges of criminal recklessness and invasion of privacy was continued in Starke Circuit Court.
Goble, Stamper Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court
Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall accepted several negotiated plea agreement between the state and the defense during a hearing on Tuesday afternoon.
Convicted Murderer, Child Molester Found Not Guilty of Failure to Register As a Sex Offender
A convicted murderer and child molester has been found not guilty of failure to register as a sex offender. The Northwest Indiana Times says Richard Dobeski was cleared of the charges last week by Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall following a bench trial. The case had been moved out of LaPorte County.
Jordan Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court
A Winamac man was sentenced to probation in a plea and sentencing hearing Tuesday morning in Starke Circuit Court.
Initial Hearing Held in Starke Circuit Court for Plymouth Teen Facing Multiple Felony Charges
A Plymouth man accused of rape, sexual misconduct with a minor, and child exploitation appeared in Starke Circuit Court Friday.
Court documents say that Thomas D. Holloway, who was 18 at the time, apparently took a group of juveniles to a residence in Starke County near Culver, on or around July 3, 2017.
There, he allegedly had sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old while she was “unaware that the sexual intercourse was occurring”, according to criminal information provided by Starke County Circuit Court. The minor was reportedly intoxicated at the time. Holloway is also accused of taking a picture and videos of the victim during the alleged incident. Continue reading
Sean Wilson Sentenced in Plea Agreement
A suspect in a rash of thefts in October of 2017 was sentenced in Starke Circuit Court Wednesday morning.
David Spohn Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court
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.
Four Women Graduate Chemical Dependency and Addictions Program
Four women received their certificate of completion of the Chemical Dependency and Addictions Program at the Starke County Justice Center.
The inmates took part in the 14-week program provided by officials from Porter-Starke Services. The program focused on overcoming addictions while rethinking behaviors and life choices. Participants develop skills to manage stress, anger, cravings, triggers, critical thinking and decision making. The program was facilitated by Chemical Dependency and Addictions Therapist Leo Smith who has 27 years of experience in the field working in corrections, outpatient, residential and detoxification.
Inmates Graduate from Chemical Dependency and Addictions Program
Eight inmates from the Starke County Justice Center are now graduates of the Chemical Dependency and Addictions Program.
The program allowed inmates the opportunity to obtain counseling services and substance abuse education while incarcerated in the Starke County Justice Center. It was a 14-week treatment program facilitated by Porter-Starke Services and led by Chemical Dependency and Addictions Therapist Leo Smith. Therapists assisted inmates in restructuring behaviors and thoughts in addiction remediation. Skills taught included the management of stress, anger, cravings, triggers, critical reasoning and decision making.
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.
Two Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court
Two people were sentenced Wednesday morning in Starke Circuit Court.
Dallas Sheets, 19, of Knox pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the state to a charge of residential entry as a Level 6 felony. He admitted to entering his father and step mother’s house without permission and took a futon. The incident occurred on Sept. 19, 2017. Sheets was sentenced to 12 months in the Starke County Justice Center. That sentence was suspended to be served on probation. Sheets will have to complete all programs recommended by the Starke County Probation officers. If he violates his terms of probation, he will have to serve the remainder of his term in the Starke County Justice Center.
Verdict Returned in Starke County Jury Trial
A Starke County man was found guilty by a 12-member jury in Starke Circuit Court on Thursday on a charge of domestic battery as a Level 6 felony.
The jury found that David Spohn battered his wife after an argument escalated over another woman. Spohn punched her in the head, causing her to fall. He then held her down and continued to hit her resulting in a chip fracture in her back and a contusion on a rib.
Spohn was on home detention for a prior felony conviction when he committed this offense.
Starke County Prosecutor Nicholas Bourff says Chief Deputy Prosecutor Mary Ryan presented several witnesses, including the victim, two eye-witnesses and Officer James Conklin with the Starke County Sheriff’s Office.
Spohn will be sentenced by Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall on Thursday, March 29 at 2 p.m. Bourff says that a Level 6 felony carries a potential penalty of six to 30 months in the Starke County Justice Center.
Plea and Sentencing Hearing Set for Jason Cooke
A third plea agreement has been reached in the case of Jason Cooke.
Cooke is charged with the October 2015 robbery of Sescoe Wireman of Knox. Cooke is accused of hitting Wireman in the head, and taking money, prescription medication, an Indiana ID card, and multiple credit cards from him. Wireman died a few days later, but a murder count against Cooke was dropped last February.
Chief Probation Officer Tenders Resignation
Starke County’s Chief Probation Officer is leaving the position after 10 years.
John Thorstad’s resignation is effective today (Thursday, March 1). According to Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall, Thorstad was recently recognized by the Judicial Conference of Indiana with the highest award for a probation officer who “exemplified professionalism and commitment to transform lives, making our community safer for everybody.”
Judge Rejects Jason Cooke’s Second Plea Agreement
Another plea agreement from Jason Cooke has been rejected in Starke Circuit Court. He’s charged with the October 2015 robbery of Sescoe Wireman. Cooke is accused of hitting Wireman in the head, and taking money, prescription medication, an Indiana ID card, and multiple credit cards from him. Wireman died a few days later, but a murder count against Cooke was dropped last February.
Judge Requests More Time Before Accepting Jason Cooke’s Plea Agreement
The man accused of the October 2015 robbery of a Knox man will have to wait until at least Monday to learn his fate. Jason Cooke is charged with hitting Sescoe Wireman in the head, and taking money, prescription medication, an Indiana ID card, and multiple credit cards from him. Wireman died a few days later, but a murder count against Cooke was dropped last February.
