Trial Set For Man Accused of Pushing a Woman Out of Moving Car

Posted on Author WKVI
Jason Cooke

The jury trial for a man accused of pushing a woman out of a moving vehicle has been scheduled for Nov. 28 at 9 a.m. in the Starke Circuit Court. Jason Cooke of Plymouth was arrested Sept. 3 on charges of Residential Entry and Trespass, and was arrested again the very next day on charges of Aggravated Battery.

Police say Cooke entered the home of Linda Draper and refused to leave despite her repeated orders to get off her property. When police were called, Cooke left the property but was soon taken into custody and arrested on preliminary charges of Residential Entry as a Class D felony and Criminal Trespass as as Class A misdemeanor.

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Jury Finds Bradley Guilty Of Criminal Deviate Conduct, Criminal Confinement

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke County Courthouse
A 12-person jury took less than 20 minutes to deliberate and announce their verdict in the case of Samuel Bradley, charged with Criminal Deviate Conduct as a Class B felony and Criminal Confinement as a Class D felony. The jury found Bradley guilty on both counts shortly after the two-day trial came to an end.

The state called three witnesses to the stand throughout the course of the trial, including the victim in the case, along with the dispatcher and the detective. The defendant called only himself as a witness.

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Whiting Man Pleads Not Guilty To Forgery, Theft Charges

Posted on Author WKVI

A man accused of stealing his father’s checkbook and forging a series of checks for a total of more than $2000 made his appearance in the Starke Circuit Court last week for his initial hearing.

Todd Doland, Jr., 30 of Whiting, pleaded not guilty to four counts of Forgery as a Class C felony and one count of Theft as a Class D felony. Doland is accused of stealing his father’s checkbook and forging at least four checks for $150, $250, $200, and $1750.

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Two Trials To Be Held Soon In Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Courthouse

Two pre-trial motions and instructions hearings were heard in the Starke Circuit Court yesterday.

Robert Singleton faces charges that include Manufacturing Methamphetamine, Illegal Drug Lab, and other possession charges. He was arrested on Feb. 17 when police traveled to a home on State Road 23 in Knox to serve an arrest warrant on Singleton and Matthew Baker, where police found an active methamphetamine lab and a slew of drugs in the presence of two young children. Singleton’s trial was re-set for Nov. 28 at 9 a.m. in the Starke Circuit Court.

Samuel Bradley will go to trial today at 9 a.m. for charges of Attempted Criminal Deviate Conduct and Criminal Confinement. He appeared for his pre-trial motions and instructions hearing yesterday, where the court determined everything is in place for the trial to proceed.

Two Plead Not Guilty To D Felonies in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Courthouse

Two initial hearings were heard in the Starke Circuit Court on Thursday for two men accused of Class D felonies.

Donald Dickson, Jr., of Plymouth faces charges of Theft after he allegedly stole a red moped from Behind Bars Motorsports in Knox. He pleaded not guilty last week to the charges, and requested a bond reduction, but the state disagreed. Dickson is held on a $20,000 surety bond in the Starke County Jail. He requested a court-appointed attorney, and his attorney status hearing was set for Sept. 21 at 11 a.m. Dickson, 30, is also prohibited from entering Behind Bars Motorsports.

Thirty-year-old Steven Pastorcik, Jr., of Knox pleaded not guilty to charges of Possession of Methamphetamine on Thursday as well. He requested a bond reduction from Judge Kim Hall, but the state objected to the reduction, saying it should instead be increased. Judge Hall increased the bond to $1500 cash, and set Pastorcik’s pre-trial conference for Oct. 31 with a plea agreement deadline of Nov. 29. Pastorcik told the court that he will be retaining Timothy Lemon as his attorney. The state also requested that Pastorcik’s suspended sentence from a previous case to be executed, which would place him in jail for 18 months.

Boldry Pleads Not Guilty To Child Seduction Charges

Posted on Author WKVI
Todd Boldry

Todd Boldry appeared in the Starke Circuit Court for his initial hearing yesterday morning, where he faces charges of Child Seduction and Official Misconduct as Class D felonies.

Boldry pleaded not guilty to the charges against him, and his first pre-trial conference date has been set for Oct. 31 at 8 a.m. His second pre-trial conference date, and plea agreement deadline, has been set for Nov. 15 at 8 a.m.

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Knox Teacher Accused of Sexual Misconduct To Appear For Initial Hearing Today

Posted on Author WKVI
Todd Boldry

Todd Boldry will appear in Starke Circuit Court this morning for his initial hearing.

Boldry was arrested Friday, Aug. 24 at the Knox Middle School on charges of Child Seduction and Official Misconduct as Class D Felonies. He was arrested amidst allegations of sexual misconduct with a student that occurred as early as 2007.

Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa confirmed that he has suspended Boldry with pay from his teaching position at the Knox Middle School pending further investigation. The suspension was initiated after police took him into custody last week. The school board will approve that action during the board’s next meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 5 at 6:30 p.m.

Case Against Former North Judson Clerk-Treasurer Will Be Heard By St. Joseph Court Judge

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Courthouse

The criminal case against former North Judson Clerk-Treasurer Connie Miller will now be heard by the Judge of the St. Joseph Superior Court, Jerome Frese.

This announcement comes after attorney Todd E. Wallsmith has taken the defendant’s case and will appear as her counsel, which presents a problem as he is within the third degree of relationship to Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall’s wife. According to Indiana law, a judge must disqualify himself in any proceeding in which a person within the third degree of relationship to the judge’s spouse is acting as a lawyer in the proceeding.

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Plea Agreement Again Rejected For Robert Reed

Posted on Author WKVI
Robert Reed

Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall rejected a plea agreement for Robert Reed in a hearing yesterday.

Robert Reed and the state had come up with an agreement where Reed would plead guilty to charges of Receiving Stolen Property and Resisting Law Enforcement and would serve 36 months with no part of that sentence suspended. He would also enter into work release once his time was served.

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Plea Agreements Rejected For Two In Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI

Kristen Webb and Joshua Givens were in Starke Circuit Court yesterday for sentencing hearings.

The pair were arrested on November 23, 2011 after officers from the Knox City Police Department executed a search warrant at 605 South Portland Street after learning of possible drug activity at the residence. Police reportedly found methamphetamine, marijuana, controlled substances and paraphernalia at the residence. Five people were arrested as a result of the search warrant.

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Initial Hearing for Todd Boldry Scheduled for This Week in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI
Todd Boldry

Friday, Aug. 31 will be a busy day in the Starke Circuit Court as at least two heated court cases proceed to their initial hearing before Judge Kim Hall.

Former Knox High School Basketball Coach Todd Boldry will appear for his initial hearing at 9 a.m., where he faces charges of Child Seduction and Official Misconduct as Class D felonies. Starke County Prosecutor Nick Bourff says each of those counts carry a sentence between six months and three years, as well as up to a $10,000 fine. Boldry was arrested on school grounds Friday amidst allegations of sexual misconduct with a student that occurred as early as 2007.

Two Guilty Pleas Entered In Starke Circuit Court Tuesday

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Courthouse

Two people pleaded guilty to charges filed against them in the Starke Circuit Court on Tuesday.

William Baugh of Knox pleaded guilty to a charge of Receiving Stolen Property as a Class D felony. Baugh is accused of pawning several dozen collectible Zippo lighters that had been stolen from a woman in Knox for $300 in February. He also admitted to a probation violation.

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O’Bryant Pleads Not Guilty to Charges of Child Molestation

Posted on Author WKVI
Steven L. O'Bryant

A man with a violent history and four heinous charges of Child Molestation made his initial appearance in the Starke Circuit Court yesterday. Forty-three-year-old Steven L. O’Bryant pleaded not guilty to the charges filed against him and vehemently denied the allegations, insisting on a lie detector test to prove his innocence.

“These charges are sick and disgusting,” O’Bryant said, insisting that while a lot of defendants claim they are innocent, he is truly so. He insisted that the state subject him to a lie detector test.

O’Bryant requested a court-appointed attorney represent him, as he is financially unable to provide his own attorney. He says since his release from the Department of Corrections on June 6, 2011, he has been unable to find a job because of the tattoos on his face. As a result, Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall appointed Timothy Lemon to his case.

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Court of Appeals Upholds Boggess’ Sentence

Posted on Author WKVI
Fred Boggess II

The Indiana Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction and sentence of Freddie Boggess.

In November 2011, a Starke County jury found Boggess guilty on charges of Dealing in Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Chemical Reagents or Precursors with Intent to Manufacture, Driving While Suspended, False Informing, and Habitual Traffic Violator. He was sentenced to 17 years for Dealing in Methamphetamine, three years for Possession of Precursors With Intent to Manufacture, one year for Driving While Suspended and six months for False Informing. All sentences were to be served concurrently. The incident occurred in Starke County in July 2011.

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Two Plea Guilty To Theft At Residence In Knox

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Courthouse

Two people pleaded guilty to counts of Theft as Class D felonies in the Starke Circuit Court on Wednesday.

Stephen Wood and David Miller were arrested on Wednesday, Jan. 28 following an alleged burglary incident, and the pair pleaded guilty to Theft as part of a plea agreement. Charges of Class B felony Burglary will be dropped as part of the agreement upon sentencing with a recommended sentence of 18 months for both, with nine months suspended.

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Revised Order Against C&C Salvage Filed In Court

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Courthouse

The revised injunction against C&C Salvage in Knox has been filed in the Starke Circuit Court.

The order was filed against C&C Salvage after the Planning Commission says they learned C&C Salvage did not have the proper permits from the commission to expand its operations, but James Campbell, the owner of C&C Salvage, had expanded the salvage and junk yard to the south, nearly doubling its size. Further, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management conducted an inspection in May and found several violations of both state and federal laws.

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Injunction Order Against C&C Salvage To Be Revised

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Courthouse

Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall heard a motion to set aside an order of injunction filed against C&C Salvage of Knox.

An injunction order was filed against C&C Salvage after the Planning Commission says they learned C&C Salvage did not have the proper permits from the commission to expand its operations, but James Campbell, the owner of C&C Salvage, had expanded the salvage and junk yard to the south, nearly doubling its size. Further, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management conducted an inspection in May and found several violations of both state and federal laws.

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Three People Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Courthouse

Several people received their sentences in the Starke Circuit Court this week.

Rose Martin pleaded guilty to Possession of Methamphetamine as a Class D felony, as well as a D felony charge of Possession of Chemical Reagents or Precursors with Intent to Manufacture. The remaining counts against her were dismissed, and she will serve 18 months for the charge of Possession of Methamphetamine, and 12 months for the charge of Possession of Precursors. The sentences will be served consecutively, and none was suspended; however, she can serve her executed sentence on home detention through Community Corrections. Martin must also pay a drug interdiction fee of $250, submit to an evaluation at Porter-Starke Services, and complete any recommended treatment. She was credited with 12 days served.

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C&C Salvage Shut Down For Permitting, IDEM Violations

Posted on Author WKVI

An injunction order has been filed in the Starke Circuit Court against C&C Salvage and Auto Sales, Inc. in Knox prohibiting them from conducting business until they have applied for and received the proper permits.

According to the injunction, C&C Salvage did not have the proper permits from the Planning Commission to expand its operations, but James Campbell had expanded the salvage and junk yard to the south, nearly doubling its size. Further, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management conducted an inspection in May and found several violations of both state and federal laws.

As a result, the injunction requires Campbell to cease all business operations until every violation of county, state, and federal law is corrected. A fine of $300 per day will be issued to Campbell for every day he is still in violation of the laws since July 30, and he is also required to pay the court costs for the matter as well.

Trial Continued For Man Charged With Rape

Posted on Author WKVI
Christopher Stonebraker

A Starke Circuit Court jury trial has been continued in the case of Christopher Stonebraker, who has been charged with Rape as a Class B Felony and Domestic Battery, a Class D Felony.

Stonebraker was arrested on Nov. 28, 2011, and it is alleged that he raped his ex-wife and pushed her head into a wall, causing her tooth to chip. The probable cause affidavit stated that he also scratched her back in the presence of two children. Stonebraker was arrested by an officer from the Indiana State Police and taken to the Starke County Jail.

There were some issues with the discovery documents and the defense requested the continuance. The case will be tried in Starke Circuit court in October.