A jury of eight women and four men deliberated for about 90 minutes Friday night before returning guilty verdicts against Gary Chavez. He’s the Knox man accused of murdering his estranged wife, Kimberly Chavez of Portage, at his rural California Township home last June 6th, kidnapping an employee from Mark Bailey’s Discount Center and carjacking a couple in English Lake. Continue reading
Murder Defendant Testifies, Closing Arguments Anticipated This Afternoon
The fate of a Knox man accused of killing his estranged wife, kidnapping an employee from Mark Bailey’s Discount Center and stealing another vehicle in English Lake will soon be in the hands of a jury. Closing arguments are anticipated later today in the trial of Gary Chavez.
He was the lone witness for the defense and offered an often emotional account of his relationship with victim Kimberly Chavez. He said he felt “totally different” from the first time he went out with her and described their marriage as happy, affectionate and loving. Chavez admitted they argued about her son and some about money toward the end of their relationship. According to him they separated for 35 days about a decade into their marriage but reconciled and all was forgiven. Continue reading
Chavez Testimony Expected Today in Murder Trial
The fate of a Knox man accused of killing his estranged wife, kidnapping an employee from Mark Bailey’s Discount Center and carjacking an English Lake couple last June 6th will soon be in the hands of a jury in Starke Circuit Court. Continue reading
State Rests in Murder Trial, Chavez Testimony Expected Tomorrow
The state has rested its case in the trial of a Knox man accused of killing his estranged wife. Defendant Gary Chavez is expected to take the stand tomorrow morning as a witness for the defense. He’s also charged with kidnapping and carjacking in connection with the events that occurred on June 6, 2014. The Starke County Sheriff’s Office got a 911 call at 3:37 that afternoon from a man in English Lake reporting a carjacking. Earlier testimony indicates that’s where Chavez left kidnapping victim Bryant Wagner when his car ran out of gas. Det. Rob Olejniczak from the Starke County Sheriff’s Office testified that based on information from Wagner he went to Mark Bailey’s Discount Center and found the pickup truck Chavez left in the parking lot. Continue reading
State Could Rest in Murder Trial Today
The state could wrap up its case this afternoon against a Knox man charged with murder, kidnapping and carjacking. They’ve called 12 witnesses so far to testify against Gary Chavez. He’s accused of killing his estranged wife, Kimberly Chavez, at his rural Knox home last June 6th, driving his pickup truck to Mark Bailey’s Discount Center, kidnapping an employee at gunpoint, driving his car to English Lake and stealing a Jeep Grand Cherokee from a couple there. Continue reading
Kidnapping Victim Testifies in Chavez Trial
The Knox man who claims he was kidnapped from Mark Bailey’s Discount Center last June by a murder suspect was the first witness to testify in his trial. Gary Chavez is also on trial for kidnapping and carjacking stemming from a June 6, 2014 incident. He’s accused of stabbing his estranged wife, Kimberly Chavez, to death at his rural California Township home, driving to Mark Bailey’s and kidnapping employee Bryant Wagner at gunpoint as he sat in his 2005 Monte Carlo in the store parking lot. Continue reading
Opening Arguments Scheduled Today in Starke County Murder Trial
The state will begin presenting its case today against the Knox man who is accused of killing his estranged wife, kidnapping an employee from Mark Bailey’s Discount Center and stealing a car from a couple in English Lake. Gary Chavez is on trial for murder, kidnapping and carjacking in connection with the June 6, 2014 incidents. His trial started yesterday with jury selection, which took the entire day. Continue reading
Murder Trial Starts Today in Starke Circuit Court
The trial for a Knox man accused of killing his estranged wife last June at his rural California Township residence gets under way today with jury selection. Continue reading
Stabbing Suspect Pleads Guilty to Battery Charge, Sentenced
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The Knox man accused of critically stabbing another man during a melee at a home in Parkview Heights last November was sentenced yesterday in Starke Circuit Court. Continue reading
Judge Sets Trial for Man Accused of Fleeing from Cops
A Grovertown man who is accused of backing his car into a Starke County Sheriff’s Deputy following a high-speed chase will go to trial next month on charges stemming from that incident.
Starke Circuit Judge Kim Hall yesterday rejected a second guilty plea from 35-year-old Paul Coffin. He’s charged with possession of methamphetamine, resisting law enforcement, operating a vehicle dangerously while intoxicated and possession of pseudoephedrine by a meth offender in connection with the Sept. 3 incident on U.S. 30 at 1100 East. Continue reading
Judge Accepts Pleas, Sentences Three Defendants
Starke Circuit Judge Kim Hall yesterday accepted plea agreements and sentenced three defendants. Dakota Rousch, 19, of Knox, was sentenced to two years in prison for attempted theft, two years in prison for assisting a criminal and two years in prison for residential entry. The sentences are to run consecutively, for a total of six years, with no time suspended. That sentence can be served on work release through Pulaski County. Continue reading
Murder Trial on Schedule in Starke Circuit Court
Gary Chavez is charged with murder, kidnapping and carjacking in Starke County. Investigators say he killed Kimberly Chavez of Portage on June 6th, drove his personal vehicle to Mark Bailey’s Discount Center on State Road 10 and kidnapped an employee. From there Chavez allegedly drove to English Lake where he’s accused of stealing another vehicle at gunpoint. Continue reading
Arson Defendant Comes to Court Late Without an Attorney
A Knox man whose business burned under suspicious circumstances in March of 2014 is still looking for an attorney to represent him in his upcoming arson trial. James Campbell’s two defense attorneys withdrew from his case in early June, citing nonpayment for legal services. He’s accused of setting fire to Starke County Recycling at the corner of U.S. 35 and Toto Road. The jury in Campbell’s March arson trial was unable to reach a verdict after 12 hours of deliberations. Continue reading
Knox Men Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court
Starke Circuit Judge Kim Hall yesterday accepted a plea from and sentenced a Knox man who pleaded guilty to criminal confinement and domestic battery in the presence of a child to four years in prison. Continue reading
Judge Resets Sentencing for Attempted Murder Defendant
Starke Circuit Judge Kim Hall has reset the sentencing hearing for an attempted murder defendant with a fuzzy memory to give his attorneys more time to draft a stipulation agreement. It will detail the facts as defendant Benton Christopher Howard, 42, remembers them as to what happened at a home in the Parkview Heights area of Knox last Nov. 30. Howard is accused of critically stabbing Brandon Davidson, damaging his heart and collapsing his lung. He is set to plead guilty to a lesser battery offense. Continue reading
Convicted Child Molester Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court
A Mooresville man who was found guilty of child molesting during a May bench trial in Starke Circuit Court was sentenced yesterday. Continue reading
Knox Man Sentenced on Drug Possession Charge
A Knox man who pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance will serve two years on probation for the offense. Officers at the Starke County Jail found two Xanax pills inside the sock of 54-year-old Jerry Sons while searching him during the booking process on Feb. 22, 2014. Continue reading
Judge Sets New Sentence Status Hearing for Attempted Murder Defendant
Starke Circuit Judge Kim Hall isn’t comfortable accepting a plea agreement from an attempted murder defendant who claims he acted in self defense just yet. He’s instructed the prosecutor and Benton Christopher Howard’s defense law attorneys to continue searching for applicable case law. Continue reading
Judge Accepts Guilty Pleas, Sentences Defendants
A Wheatfield man who is 10 years in arrears on child support payments totaling more than $14,000 has a second chance to catch up. Continue reading
Defendants Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court
A Walkerton man who admitted strangling his ex-girlfriend during a feud over a security department and a Knox man who admitted driving in spite of a lifetime license suspension were both sentenced yesterday in Starke Circuit Court. Continue reading
