Lindsey Dennis Sentenced for Attempted Trafficking with Inmate
Court of Appeals Upholds 30-Year Sentence for Hite
Hite appealed two convictions for Resisting Law Enforcement as Class B felonies, claiming that the state did not provide sufficient evidence to support his convictions, and that his sentence was inappropriate given the nature of the offenses and his character.
Meth Lab Suspect Appears for Initial Hearing
Johnny Mullens has been charged with felony counts of Dealing in Methamphetamine, Neglect of a Dependent, Possession Precursors or Chemical Reagents, and Possession of Methamphetamine, plus misdemeanor counts of Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Paraphernalia. A plea of not guilty was entered and his initial bond of $25,000 was raised to $50,000 surety.
Robert Singleton, Jr. Sentenced to 10 Years in DOC
Fields Trial Continued; Singleton to Be Sentenced Today
Meanwhile, Robert Singleton, Jr. will appear for a sentencing hearing this morning in the Starke Circuit Court following his conviction of Dealing in Methamphetamine as a Class B felony, and Possession of Precursors, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Maintaining a Common Nuisance as Class D felonies. Singleton was found guilty of manufacturing methamphetamine in the presence of two young children.
Singleton will receive his sentence at 9:30 a.m.
Sentences Handed Down in Starke Circuit Court
Joseph Esposito faced two causes in the court and pleaded guilty to charges in both cases. Esposito pleaded guilty as part of a plea agreement to four counts of Battery as Class C felonies and the prosecutor dismissed three counts of Intimidation. Esposito was sentenced to three years in the Department of Corrections for the charges of Battery and a no-contact order with the victim remains in effect. He also pleaded guilty to Possession of Marijuana with a Prior Conviction and was sentenced to 12 months in the Department of Corrections, all of which were suspended. That sentence will run consecutively to his other sentence for a total of three years in the DOC followed by one year of probation.
Judge Hall Finds Jennie Carter Guilty of Theft of Tourism Funds
Carter faced a count of Theft as a Class D felony in the bench trial which began last Wednesday. Three witnesses testified throughout the course of the bench trial, including the lead investigator in the case with the Indiana State Police, Debbie Mix of the Starke County Tourism Commission and Chamber of Commerce, and the defendant.
Final arguments began Wednesday afternoon and continued today, when the elements of the theft charge were explained and other legal issues were discussed.
The verdict was left to Judge Hall to decide, who entered a verdict of guilty of Theft as a Class D felony. Carter will receive her sentence on March 25 at 10 a.m. in the Starke Circuit Court.
Knox Woman Appointed Counsel in Murder Case
The Knox woman accused of shooting her boyfriend has written a notice to the Starke Circuit Court indicating she cannot afford an attorney.
During her initial hearing Friday, Feb. 15, Kathleen Holt told Judge Kim Hall that she would be obtaining her own attorney, but has since found she hasn’t the resources available to secure counsel.
Starke County Jury Convicts Man of OVWI
A Starke County jury of six found Jerome Uskert guilty on a charge of Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated in a trial conducted on Thursday.
During a break after the verdict was read, Uskert pleaded guilty to another charge of Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated-Prior and those two charges were merged. He was arrested in February 2012 on the OVWI-prior charge and then arrested after failing to appear in October.
Jennie Carter Trial Continued until Monday
Three witnesses were called Thursday in the Starke Circuit Court bench trial in the case of Jennie Carter. Carter was charged with theft in an investigation with the Indiana State Police after she allegedly took $7,000 in Starke County Tourism Commission funds for her own use.
The prosecution called two witnesses, the lead detective in the investigation Chris Campione with the Indiana State Police and Debbie Mix with the Starke County Chamber of Commerce and the Tourism Commission. They testified of their knowledge of the event surrounding the incident. Defendant Jennie Carter testified on her own behalf.
Testimony lasted throughout the day with Judge Kim Hall presiding. The prosecution and defense were able to deliver their final arguments, but those arguments have been continued until Monday, Feb. 25 at 1 p.m. The elements of the count of Theft, a Class D Felony, will be presented in this case. All evidence will then be in the hands of Judge Hall who will render a verdict.
A jury trial will commence today at 9 a.m. in the case of Jerome Uskert who is accused of Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated and Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated with a Prior Conviction within Five Years.
Jennie Carter Bench Trial to Begin Today in Starke Circuit
Jennie Carter Jury Trial Set for Wednesday
Carter was arrested and charged with Theft in March 2012 after she allegedly stole $7,748.40 from the Starke County Tourism Commission on June 2, 2011.
Murder Suspect Pleads Not Guilty
The woman who allegedly shot her boyfriend at their home in Knox appeared in Starke Circuit Court for an initial hearing this morning. Kathleen Holt pleaded not guilty to one count of murder, which carries a sentence of 45 to 65 years if she is convicted of that charge. Continue reading
Man Sentenced to Eight Years in DOC for Dealing in Methamphetamine
A man with an extensive criminal history received his sentence in the Starke Circuit Court this week following his pleas of guilty to two of the four charges against him. Eric Wireman was arrested on Oct. 17 after police received a phone call of individuals manufacturing methamphetamine at a residence.
Two Sentenced to DOC in Starke Circuit Court
Two men received their sentences in the Starke Circuit Court yesterday afternoon. Patrick Sullivan received a discretionary sentence for his conviction of Burglary as a Class B felony while Tony Clemons was sentenced for a B-felony charge of Manufacturing Methampethetamine.
Two Class B Felony Cases Set for Plea and Sentencing Today
Starke Judge Rules on Commercial Structure Debate
The ongoing debate between Betty and George Dotlich and Julia Ford seems to have come to a conclusion, as Patrick Blankenship, special judge with the Starke Circuit Court, ruled that the Starke County Board of Zoning Appeals failed to follow proper procedure, allowed ex parte communication, and made a decision unsupported by substantial evidence.
The case came to light when Julia Ford of Starke County purchased a used manufactured commercial office structure that had been certified in Illinois and applied for a permit to convert it to a single-family residence, which the BZA approved on Jan. 11, 2012. Petitioners George and Betty Dotlich, James and Linda Siroky, and Anthony and Jane Standifer own real estate adjacent to Ford’s residence.
Jury Convicts Singleton on All Counts; Sentencing Set for March
The jury found Singleton guilty of Dealing in Methamphetamine as a Class B felony, and Possession of Precursors, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Maintaining a Common Nuisance as Class D felonies.
Richard Garrison Sentenced to Nine Years in DOC
A man who had been arrested in September when police discovered a methamphetamine lab operation inside a hotel room in Knox received his sentence in the Starke Circuit Court this week. Richard Garrison, Jr., was arrested alongside several others on Sept. 1, 2012, when police arrived at the Super Value Inn to issue an arrest warrant and stumbled upon a room housing active methamphetamine labs, paraphernalia, methamphetamine, and a slew of other drugs.
