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

Knox Man Sentenced to Home Detention, Probation in Hearing

A Knox man was sentenced per the terms of a plea agreement in a hearing in Starke Circuit Court Wednesday afternoon.

Frank Matkovich admitted to Judge Kim Hall that he was driving under the influence of alcohol while his license was forfeited for life in the area of McGill and Washington Streets in Knox on July 18, 2017. He said a police officer recognized him behind the wheel of his vehicle knowing that he had a suspended driver’s license.

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David Spohn Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court

David Spohn

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.

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Two Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court on Drug Charges

Two defendants charged with a felony level of possession of methamphetamine were sentenced in Starke Circuit Court Wednesday morning.

Debra Trusty, 46, pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the prosecutor’s office to the charge. She admitted that she was in possession of the drug while in a police vehicle while enroute to the Starke County Jail on Dec. 5, 2015. Trusty’s attorney, Leslie Baker, explained that she successfully completed treatment and is gainfully employed. She is also attempting to make changes in her life to keep herself sober.

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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.

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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.

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Jury Trial in the Case of David Spohn to Begin Today

A 12-member jury will be seated today in Starke Circuit Court to hear testimony in the case of David Spohn who is charged with domestic battery resulting in serious bodily injury as a Level 5 felony.

According to court documents, on or about May 30, 2017, Spohn reportedly battered his wife by punching her in the head, causing her to fall. He then allegedly held her down and continued to hit her resulting in a chip fracture in her back and a contusion on a rib. The alleged action occurred after an argument escalated between the pair.

The two-day trial begins at 9 a.m. today in Starke Circuit Court.

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.

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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.

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Status Hearing Held for Alleged Murder Suspect Edward Blackburn

Edward Blackburn

A status hearing for Edward Blackburn was held in Starke Circuit Court Wednesday afternoon.

As previously reported, Edward Blackburn, of Arkansas, formerly of Texas, is being charged with the murder of Cord Colgrove, of Knox. Court documents indicate that in March of 2017, Blackburn allegedly shot Colgrove in the head in front of three witnesses in rural North Judson. Continue reading

Jerry Leonard Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court

Jerry Leonard

A Knox man was sentenced in Starke Circuit Court on Thursday morning on two counts of child molesting as a Class A felony.

Jerry Leonard, 37, was sentenced on one count of child molesting to 30 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections with 10 years of the sentence suspended. On the second count of child molesting, Leonard was sentenced to 30 years in the DOC with 10 years of the sentence suspended. The sentences will run concurrently, or at the same time. After he serves his time in the DOC, he will serve his suspended sentence on probation.

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Sentencing Hearing for Convicted Child Molester Postponed

Jerry Leonard

A sentencing hearing for a Knox man convicted of child molesting is postponed to Thursday, Feb. 8 at 11 a.m. in Starke Circuit Court.

On Jan. 11, a 12-member jury convicted 37-year-old Jerry Leonard of two counts of child molesting as a Class A Felony and two counts of performing a sexual act in front of a child as a Class D Felony. The jury deliberated for about one hour before returning guilty verdicts.

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