KOSCIUSKO — Although Kyle Patrick Dukes will not officially take over duties as Kosciusko County sheriff until Jan. 1, 2019, a ceremony was held Tuesday, Dec. 18, to swear in Dukes and other elected officials. Brad Jackson, who will serve as the 2019 vice president of the Kosciusko Commissioners, started off the event by welcoming those …read more.

KOSCIUSKO — A Warsaw man was sentenced in Kosciusko Circuit Court Monday, May 7, after officers discovered methamphetamine and syringes in his vehicle. Jamey Dorian Roberts, who is shown with addresses at 205 E. Smith St., Milford, and 3781 N. Maple Drive, Warsaw, was charged with possession of methamphetamine with enhancing circumstances, a level 5 …read more.

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb signed SEA 126, establishing a fourth superior court in Kosciusko County, effective July 1, 2019. The bill was signed late Wednesday. “We’re glad,” said Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Michael Reed. “We thought it might be a year from now, so we were prepared for 2019.” “We need it,” said …read more.

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — Plea agreements or plea bargaining are becoming prevalent in criminal court cases. In fact it is estimated 90 percent of criminal cases are resolved through negotiated plea bargains. This is especially true in cases of sexual related crimes and crimes involving deaths. Imagine being the victim of a sex crime, or a …read more.

WARSAW — Community support continues for Steve, Michael and Katie Conrad. It was evident during the sentencing of Mickgomery Hisey Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 17. Over 30 people filled the courtroom to show support for the Conrads. Kimberly Conrad and Stephen Conrad II lost their lives in a vehicle accident on Christmas Day, 2016. Today was …read more.

[weaver_youtube gpkbg9IVp64 rel=0]   WARSAW — Dan Hampton, county prosecutor, and Monica Foster, counsel for Paul Gingerich, spoke to the press following the close of a sentence modification for Gingerich, who has been in prison since January 2011 for the murder of Phil Danner in April 2010. Hampton and Foster both spent time explaining the …read more.

WARSAW — “Today’s sentencing was very appropriate for the actions on Feb. 19, 2015,” stated Dan Hampton, Kosciusko County Prosecutor. Hampton held a brief press conference following the sentencing of Brandon Thomas Woody and Kyle David DeHart in the murders of Tara Lynn Thornburg and Josh Randall Knisley. “Their actions were heinous,” he referenced Kosciusko …read more.

Kosciusko County Prosecutor Dan Hampton filed a motion today in Kosciusko County Circuit Court to substitute the second charge against Brandon Thomas Woody from attempted murder to murder. Woody, 23, 605 W. North St., Syracuse, was initially charged Thursday afternoon with murder and attempted murder, following a double shooting earlier that day in Syracuse. Joshua …read more.

Whitley County Circuit Court Judge James R. Heuer upheld the original 30-year term of Paul Gingerich’s guilty plea for the Class A felony crime of conspiracy to commit murder. But, under the new Paul’s Law, which came about because of this case, the now 15-year-old could get a lesser sentence in just 3 years. Under …read more.

Republicans, and one Democrat, have begun filing their candidacy for various county office seats since the start of filing Jan. 8. As of Monday the list of candidates included: Judge, Kosciusko Superior Court 1 — David C. Cates and Stephen P. Harris Judge, Kosciusko Superior Court 3 — Joe V. Sutton (incumbent) Prosecuting Attorney, 54th …read more.

Several months ago Kosciusko County officials began the local creation of a nationally proven solution Drug Court. Drug Court will focus on those offenders whose criminality stem mainly or entirely from their dependence on substances. Also, Drug Court will consider both drug and drug-driven offenses. (See related) In the last 20 years, one of the …read more.

Initially planning to fight multiple felony charges including aggravated battery, forgery and theft, in October, Garrett Joe Swanson reconsidered his options and accepted plea agreements in lieu of jury trials. (See related) Swanson, 30, of Warsaw, appeared before Kosciusko Superior Court I Judge Duane Huffer this morning to be sentenced for the Class B felony …read more.

Making the public aware of the problems of domestic violence that are becoming commonplace in society, a panel of experts who work in the field addressed the public Monday evening. With October noted as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office along with The Beaman Home, Ivy Tech Community College and the Northern …read more.

This German Shepherd puppy died after what Patrick Jamison said was about 2 weeks left with no food or water. (Photos and video provided by Patrick Jamison) The necropsy performed on a puppy found deceased and chained in a Burket yard confirms the German Shepherd died of starvation. Dr. Richard Brungardt of Lakeland Animal Clinic …read more.

Beginning in January 2014, Kosciusko County will begin a three month trial of something known as Drug Court. Hoss Smith, manager of the Warsaw Serenity House, said of the program, “It’s designed to take those with addictions and put them with strict supervision and rules to follow.” The goal of Drug Court is to first …read more.

The wavier hearing for Paul H. Gingerich, 15, which was set for 9 a.m. this morning, has been vacated with no new date set. A pre-trial conference via telephone will be held at another date with the two attorneys and a special judge. Indiana Court of Appeals remanded the case of Gingerich’s conviction for conspiracy …read more.

Kent Flannery was sentenced this morning to a total of 40 years in prison for the crimes of incest and child molestation. On Feb. 4, Flannery appeared before Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Duane Huffer and pleaded guilty to the class B and class A felony counts respectively. Today, while being sentenced, the Milford man said …read more.

[youtube=”http://youtu.be/3SC-X1Mw1ww”] The Milford teen who used a skid loader to damage two police cars Saturday night has been remanded to Pierceton Woods Juvenile Detention Center until his next hearing, set for Dec. 27. Kosciusko County Prosecutor Dan Hampton says the 15-year-old boy appeared for an initial hearing Monday afternoon and was ordered to detention until …read more.

Day two of the Bill Warren criminal confinement and sexual assault trial began with the alleged victim, K.W., back on the stand and recounting the events of Aug. 29-30, 2010, that led to Warren facing 27 felony charges. (See related story) Kosciusko County Prosecutor Dan Hampton began today’s hearing saying, “Yesterday we talked about your …read more.

Francisco J. Gonzalez Francisco J. Gonzalez, 24, was taken into custody today by Warsaw Police without incident. Gonzalez is accused of driving drunk and killing a horse that was pulling an Amish wagon Saturday night in Warsaw. Police say they received the warrants and located Gonzalez at Shamrock Mobile Home Park in Warsaw. Gonzalez was …read more.

Don’t expect to see a Hollywood twist on it, but Kosciusko County will soon have its own crime scene investigation team aimed at better collecting evidence and processing crime scenes. Prosecutor Dan Hampton has organized the Kosciusko Major Crimes Task Force that will include Josh Spangle of the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department, Jamie de la …read more.

A North Webster man who failed to appear for his sentencing on Aug. 2 was arrested in Syracuse yesterday. Brad Lee Niles Jr., 25, had a warrant issued for his arrest when he failed to show up in Kosciusko Circuit Court after pleading guilty to two counts of felony forgery, two counts of felony fraud and …read more.

Wabash County defense attorney Alan J. Zimmerman appeared before Kosciusko County Superior Court I Judge Duane Huffer today without his client, Bill Warren, for a pre-trial conference hearing. Warren, 38, of North Manchester, has been charged with 27 felonies including criminal confinement, strangulation, sexual battery, battery resulting in serious injury to a person under the age …read more.

By STACEY PAGE Editor [email protected] Kosciusko County Prosecutor Dan Hampton says he is not pursuing charges against any former Warsaw Police officers who were being investigated by Indiana State Police. According to Hampton, former Warsaw Police Chief Perry Hunter and former Warsaw Police Officer Joe Stanley were being investigated in 2009 by Indiana State Police …read more.