WARSAW — An Ohio woman was sentenced in Kosciusko Circuit Court Thursday, Sept. 12, to six years at the Indiana Department of Corrections after dealing methamphetamine in Silver Lake.

Ashtyn Nicole Demelo, 26, 3598 Grosvenor Road, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, was charged with dealing in methamphetamine, a level 3 felony. Charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

On May 11, 2018, an officer with the Silver Lake Police Department received information about multiple people manufacturing methamphetamine at a residence. According to court documents, the officer went to the residence and smelled marijuana. Upon entering the residence, the officer found four people, including Demelo, hiding from the officer.

Demelo told the officer she came to the residence with a man in order to deliver methamphetamine. She also told officers the vehicle they arrived in contained methamphetamine. While searching the vehicle, officers found 5.2 grams of marijuana. They also found scales and a smoking device in Demelo’s purse. While searching the residence, officers found a plastic bag containing 0.2 pounds of methamphetamine.

At the scene, Demelo admitted to officers that she went to Silver Lake to meet with a man in order to make a drug deal. She brought one and one half ounces of methamphetamine to Silver Lake to sell. Demelo also admitted to dealing 2 to 3 pounds of methamphetamine per week for the past six months and that she deals methamphetamine in South Bend, Plymouth, Warsaw, Wabash and Michigan.

“Ms. Demelo is remorseful,” said Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Matthew Buehler. “She turned herself in when there was a warrant out for her arrest. But she was also selling large amounts of methamphetamine. This isn’t a Level 5 or 6 felony. I hope an order will be crafted that will address the seriousness of this crime, but will also help Ms. Demelo.”

Defense Attorney Adam Turner said Demelo has a large support network and discussed letters of support she has from family members.

“There are two aspects of this case that I find unique,” said Turner. “One is obviously the large amount of drugs that were dealt. The other is Ashtyn herself. This is her first criminal offense and she has no prior criminal history. She has a desire to get this behind her.”

Demelo then read a letter of apology to the court.

“I apologize to the Silver Lake community for my actions,” said Demelo. “I knew turning myself in was the right thing to do. I am asking to receive help because I’m not that type of person anymore. I want to participate in RWI [Recovery While Incarcerated] and get help.”

“You have a lot of potential and I get all of that,” said Judge Michael Reed. “But those were large amounts of methamphetamine being brought into the community. And that’s a serious offense.”

Demelo was sentenced to nine years at the Indiana Department of Corrections. Three years of the sentence was suspended on formal probation. She has 388 days of jail time credit, with good time credit as calculated. Reed also recommended Demelo be immediately placed in the RWI program.

“I hope you focus on making amends with your family and I wish you luck,” said Reed.