Judge Sets Bond for Businessman Charged with Arson

Posted on Author WKVI
James Campbell
James Campbell

Bond has been set at $2 million for the owner of a Knox business destroyed by fire on Thursday, March 20. Starke Circuit Judge Kim Hall found probable cause to charge James Campbell, 46, with arson, which is a Class A felony, during a Sunday afternoon hearing in his courtroom. He also ordered Campbell to surrender his passport. Officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department and State Fire Marshal’s Office arrested Campbell late Friday. He owns Starke County Recycling, also known as C&C Salvage. The business, located on U.S. 35 just south of Toto Road, caught fire on Thursday, March 20. Starke County dispatchers were notified at 5:17 p.m. The Bass Lake, Knox-Center Township, Hamlet, Washington Township, Koontz Lake, North Judson-Wayne Township, San Pierre and Monterey Fire Departments all responded to the blaze and spent several hours getting it under control. One firefighter was injured. Black smoke was visible for miles, and a brigade of tanker trucks hauled water to the scene. Continue reading →

Johnny Dubois Found Not Guilty in Bench Trial

Posted on Author WKVI

A bench trial was held Wednesday in Starke Circuit Court in which Judge Kim Hall heard testimony in the matter of Johnny Dubois.

Dubois was charged with Intimidation, a Class D felony. As written in the charging information, Dubois had verbally threatened to physically harm the victim if she didn’t give him the money he wanted. He also told her that he would kill her if she took their children away from him.

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Bench Trial Held in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
A bench trial was held yesterday in Starke Circuit Court in the case of Johnny DuBois.

During a pre-trial motion and instructions hearing on Tuesday, both the defense and the state agreed to waive the right for a trial and the defense asked for a bench trial which was granted.

Both sides presented evidence in the case yesterday and Judge Kim Hall took all evidence under advisement. Judge Hall will deliver a verdict today at 10 a.m.

Offenders Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI

Several offenders were sentenced in Starke Circuit Court Tuesday morning.

Starke County Courthouse
Starke County Courthouse
Steven Brown pleaded guilty to charges of Possession of a Firearm without a Permit, a Class A misdemeanor and a charge of Possession of a Firearm without a Permit with a Prior Conviction, a Class C felony. Those two charges merged into one count. He also pleaded guilty to a charge of Trespass as a Class A misdemeanor. Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall sentenced Brown to four years in the Department of Corrections with no part of the sentence suspended, plus one year in the Starke County Jail on the trespass charge. The sentences will run concurrently. He was permitted to serve his sentence on home detention with electronic monitoring.

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Kyle Sullivan Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke County Courthouse
Starke County Courthouse
A man is not allowed to visit the Hamlet Apartments as part of his plea agreement that was accepted during a hearing in Starke Circuit Court on Wednesday morning.

Kyle Sullivan pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the state to charges of Residential Entry as a Class D felony and misdemeanor charges of Criminal Mischief (two counts) and Trespass.

Sullivan was sentenced to serve 13 months in the Department of Corrections and one year in the Starke County Jail on each of the misdemeanor charges. The sentences will be served concurrently, or at the same time. Sullivan was permitted to serve his sentence on electronic monitoring home detention through Knights Community Corrections. He was also ordered to pay $274.40 in restitution and not to be on the property of the Hamlet apartments.

Hanley Warren Chapman Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI

Hanley Warren Chapman
Hanley Warren Chapman
Hanley Warren Chapman was sentenced in Starke Circuit Court Thursday afternoon.

Chapman was arrested on Aug. 7, 2013 after he fired three shots into the floor of his home with his brother-in-law present. The SWAT team was called to the home in North Judson in order to assist the North Judson Police Department in taking him into custody. The SWAT team entered the home and found Chapman in a room in the basement. He was highly intoxicated at the time he was taken to the Starke County Jail.

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Five Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI

Five offenders were sentenced in Starke Circuit Court Wednesday morning after pleading guilty to charges in individual plea agreements with the State.

Chase Miller pleaded guilty to a charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance as a Class D felony. Judge Hall sentenced Miller to 13 months in the Indiana Department of Corrections with that entire sentence suspended to be served on probation. If he successfully completes a drug rehabilitation program as determined by the probation department, he may petition the court for misdemeanor treatment of the charge. The State may object to that request.

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William Allen Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI

William Allen was sentenced in Starke Circuit Court Tuesday morning.

Allen pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the State to a charge of Domestic Battery as a Class D felony. Judge Kim Hall sentenced Allen per the terms of the agreement to 36 months in the Department of Corrections with no part of the sentence suspended. He was permitted to serve the sentence on home detention.

As a term of his sentence, Allen will undergo necessary and appropriate classes or programs offered by Starke County Community Corrections to assist in his rehabilitation.

This sentence will be served consecutively to a sentence to be handed down in LaPorte County on a probation violation charge.

Amended Plea Agreements Filed, Sentencing Hearings Set in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI

Hanley Warren Chapman
Hanley Warren Chapman
After Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall rejected several plea agreements on Jan. 29, those defendants were in court on Friday to appear for status hearings in their respective cases.

One of those defendants was Hanley Warren Chapman. The last time this case was discussed in court, Judge Hall stated that he had questions concerning the factual basis regarding a charge of Resisting Law Enforcement. He also inquired about a mental health evaluation as Chapman told the judge that an evaluation was done but wasn’t included in the plea agreement. Chapman told Judge Hall that he is seeking help for his alcohol abuse and is taking medication to stabilize his issues.

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Levi Lakes Sentenced to 10-year Prison Sentence

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
Levi Lakes was sentenced in Starke Circuit Court on Monday morning.

Lakes was in court last week where he pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the state on a charge of Dealing in a Narcotic Drug. Judge Kim Hall sentenced Lakes to 10 years in the Department of Corrections with no part of that sentence suspended.

If Lakes successfully completes the CLIFF or GRIP program for drug rehabilitation while incarcerated, he may petition the court for a modification of his sentence.

Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall Sentences Several Offenders

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
Several offenders were sentenced in Starke Circuit Court on Thursday.

Carrie Hensley pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the State to a charge of Dealing in Narcotic Drugs (Heroin). Judge Kim Hall sentenced her to ten years in the Department of Corrections with three years suspended to be served on probation. She will participate in a therapeutic community while incarcerated. If she successfully completes a rehabilitative program and serves half of her sentence, she may petition the court for a modification of her sentence.

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David Heineman, Sr. Sentenced to Six Years on Meth Charge

Posted on Author WKVI
David Heineman
David Heineman, Sr.

David Heineman, Sr.  was sentenced in Starke Circuit Court Wednesday morning.

Heineman, Sr. pleaded guilty to a a Class B felony charge of Possession of Methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school. Heineman, Sr. admitted in open court that on Apr. 7, 2012, he did possess the drug while at his residence on Lake Street, which is less than 1,000 feet from the Marshall/Starke Head Start school.

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Four Plea Agreements Rejected in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall
Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall
Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall rejected plea agreements in four cases yesterday.

Judge Hall rejected a plea agreement for 18-year-old Martin Noble because he didn’t pay his $100 public defender fee and he didn’t have the paperwork filed for his evaluation into community corrections in time for his hearing. His case was set for a status hearing for Friday, Feb. 7 at 9 a.m.

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Hanley “Warren” Chapman Plea Agreement Rejected

Posted on Author WKVI
Hanley Warren Chapman
Hanley Warren Chapman

A plea agreement for Hanley “Warren” Chapman was rejected by Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall Wednesday morning.

Judge Hall told those assembled in court that he had questions about the factual basis regarding his charge of Resisting Law Enforcement. According to court documents, Chapman was situated in a basement room when police were outside the home verbally attempting to get him out of the residence in North Judson. No physical force was used to take him into custody.

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Hanley “Warren” Chapman to be Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI

Hanley Warren Chapman
Hanley Warren Chapman
A North Judson man who prompted a call to the SWAT team in August will be sentenced in Starke Circuit Court this morning.

Hanley “Warren” Chapman was arrested in August on charges of Criminal Recklessness as a Class C Felony and Resisting Law Enforcement as a Class D Felony. Chapman’s stepson called police after Chapman reportedly fired three shots into the floor in his home in his brother-in-law’s presence. The Pulaski County SWAT Team was called to respond to the home and attempted to get him out of the home to no avail.

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Verdicts Returned in Starke Circuit Court Trial

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
A jury has returned with verdicts in a trial in Starke Circuit Court involved defendant Gregory Schweisthal.

Schweisthal was found not guilty on a charge of Rape and not guilty on a charge of Strangulation. He was found guilty on charges of Invasion of Privacy (two counts), and Domestic Battery. He pleaded guilty to counts 2A and 3A which were enhancement charges under the Invasion of Privacy counts due to a prior conviction in Knox City Court.

Gregory Schweisthal will be sentenced in Starke Circuit Court on Monday, Feb. 17 at 1 p.m. CT.