James Lee Campbell was sentenced in Starke Circuit Court Wednesday morning to 72 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections on charges of felony murder, resisting law enforcement, and a firearm sentencing enhancement.
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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.
Demolition plans for a partially collapsed Downtown North Judson building are being finalized by the town council. A contract with Dirt Works Excavating is complete, and Town Attorney Justin Schramm presented it to council members for their signatures Monday. Continue reading
Starke County has 13 new Court Appointed Special Advocates ready to shepherd abused and neglected children through the legal system. Starke Circuit Judge Kim Hall yesterday swore in the 13 newest graduates of the CASA volunteer training and applauded them for their willingness to step up and do something out of their comfort zone.
Demolition of a partially collapsed North Judson building is on hold until a structural engineer can be brought in to determine whether it’s safe for the owner to remove personal items from inside.
Part of the roof and upper floor of the structure at 205 and 207 Lane Street fell in last Thursday afternoon. The town sought an emergency demolition order to tear the structure down without having to go back through the bid process. Continue reading
The woman charged in connection with the March 3rd murder of a Knox man is back in jail.
Augusta Hadden, 39, is charged with the Level 5 felony offense of assisting a criminal. Court documents indicate she threw a cell phone out of a truck driven by murder suspect Edward Blackburn after he fatally shot Cord Colgrove at a rural North Judson residence. Continue reading
A block of the North Judson business district is closed until at least Monday morning after part of a building previously declared unsafe by the town council fell in. Town attorney Justin Schramm says an emergency hearing on the fate of the structure at 205 and 207 Lane Street will take place Monday morning at 8 a.m. EDT in Winamac. Special Judge Michael Shurn of Pulaski County will hear the case. Starke Circuit Judge Kim Hall recused himself due to a conflict of interest. Continue reading
The woman charged in connection with last month’s murder of a Knox man may soon be out of jail on bond, but she will still be subject to strict restrictions. Augusta Hadden, 39, is charged with the level 5 felony offense of assisting a criminal. Court documents indicate she threw a cell phone out of a truck driven by murder suspect Edward Blackburn after he fatally shot Cord Colgrove at a rural North Judson residence on March 3rd. Continue reading
A pair of men charged in separate Starke County murders appeared in Starke Circuit Court Wednesday for status hearings. Continue reading
The woman charged in connection with last month’s murder of a Knox man will remain in jail for at least another week. Starke Circuit Judge Kim Hall denied a request by Augusta Hadden’s attorney to reduce her bond from $200,000 surety. Continue reading
The renovations to the Starke County Courthouse and former jail building in downtown Knox are on schedule and under budget. Continue reading
The Arkansas man accused of fatally shooting a Knox man Friday night at a rural North Judson home remains jailed without bond. Edward Blackburn entered a plea of not guilty during his initial hearing this morning in Starke Circuit Court in connection with Cord Colgrove’s death. He advised Judge Kim Hall his family intends to hire an attorney to represent him. Continue reading
A jury in Starke Circuit Court this week found a defendant guilty on all three counts following a brief trial before Judge Kim Hall. Continue reading
Starke Circuit Judge Kim Hall this week issued a bench warrant for a Knox business owner who is alleged to have violated a court order. James Campbell, who owns multiple businesses at the southwest corner of U.S. 35 and Toto Road, has failed to submit a site assessment plan to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, according to the court filing. Continue reading
Starke County’s new flag is now flying proudly over the courthouse. It was unveiled during Friday’s bicentennial torch relay celebration and officially raised for the first time Monday morning. Starke Circuit Judge Kim Hall presided over the brief ceremony after accepting the flag from Melba and Brad Shilling. Her late husband, Jim, was a well-known historian, community activist and a past winner of the Henry F. Schricker Award. It’s presented annually to a resident who embodies the former governor’s credo of “service before self.” Continue reading
The Starke County Council has tasked Sheriff Bill Dulin with crafting a budget for courthouse security. Renovations currently underway include restricting access to the building and adding a metal detector to ensure the safety of employees and patrons. Continue reading
The Starke County Council last week approved an additional appropriation for a program that helps children throughout the community. Rhonda Adcock is the director of Starke County CASA. The acronym stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. Adcock says it’s an arm of Starke Circuit Court, with volunteers who advocate for children who are in family court due to abuse or neglect. Continue reading
The Indiana Court of Appeals has upheld a sentence from Starke Circuit Court. A jury found Steven A. Garland guilty of strangulation as a Level 6 felony in September of 2015, and Starke Circuit Judge Kim Hall sentenced him to 30 months in prison. Continue reading
The Starke County Commissioners may opt for quality over quantity when it comes to the comfort of courthouse staff in the proposed renovation plans. They’re in the midst of finalizing the bid packets for updates to the courthouse and renovations of the former jail across the street. Continue reading
The Indiana Court of Appeals has upheld a ruling from Starke Circuit Court involving a child molestation charge. Continue reading
