Trauma experienced in childhood can have long-lasting effects.

A hands-free law regarding cellular phone usage while driving goes into effect Wednesday, July 1.

Local law enforcement officials have established a new advocacy group for children that will work to ensure young people being interviewed in connection with abuse cases can do so in a safe and supportive environment.

WARSAW —  Kosciusko County Emergency Management Agency Director Ed Rock received approval to apply for a grant to be used to improve security.  Rock said the grant is to be used to “harden” facilities, making them more resistant to an attack and would be used specifically for the justice building. “The grant was for up …read more.

WARSAW —  Kosciusko County Sheriff Kyle Dukes provided a 2019 year-end statistics report at the Kosciusko County Council meeting Thursday, March 12. Dukes first talked about the success of NET 43.  “One hundred and twenty-eight case reports, 142 people incarcerated, 28 search warrants, 18 times I used the SWAT team for NET 43 investigations, the …read more.

WARSAW — A Winona Lake man was sentenced to five years in prison, though he will likely serve only a fraction of that time behind bars.  Daniel Hugo Duenas, 21, 2326 E. Pierceton Road, was sentenced in Kosciusko Circuit Court Thursday, Feb. 13, almost three years after striking a man with a vehicle following a …read more.

WARSAW – The former director of Kosciusko County Community Corrections is alleging in a complaint that Prosecutor Dan Hampton created a hostile workplace prior to her departure in November. Anna Bailey Anna Bailey served as the director of Community Corrections for almost two years before she was escorted out of her office in the Kosciusko …read more.

WARSAW —  If Barry Andrew wants to be the new director of Community Corrections, it appears to be his choice. Kosciusko County commissioners approved Barry Andrew as executive director of Community Corrections at the commissioners meeting Tuesday, Jan. 14, providing Andrew accepts the position. The Community Corrections Advisory Board formally on Monday offered Andrew the …read more.

WARSAW — Jon Garber was chosen as the Kosciusko County Council president for 2020 at the council meeting Thursday, Jan. 9.  Ernie Wiggins, although not in attendance, was voted to serve as the vice president. County Attorney Chad Miner and Ken Jones, president and chief executive officer with Jones Petrie Rafinski, Elkhart, told council members …read more.

WARSAW — Despite being short-staffed, in part due to the departure of two employees who are facing criminal charges, day-to-day operations are continuing at Kosciusko County Community Corrections.  The department has been under a cloud of concern in recent weeks after its director, Anna Bailey, and an administrative assistant, Taylor Pagan, left their positions and …read more.

WARSAW — An Illinois man was sentenced to 55 years in prison on Monday, Dec. 23, after killing his cousin in 2017. Derrick Lavelle Wandrick, 26, Harvey, Ill., was charged with felony murder. Wandrick had been facing a four-day jury trial in January 2020, but that was canceled after a guilty plea was entered in …read more.

WARSAW — New appointments were filled and year-end transfers were made Thursday night, Dec. 12, by Kosciusko County Council. 2020 Office Appointments: Alcohol Beverage Commission — Dan Woods Area Plan Board — Jon Garber Emergency Mgt. Advisory — Joni Truex KC Economic Development Committee — Kimberly Cates Kos. Economic Development Corporation — Kimberly Cates Michiana …read more.

From left, Attorney Antony Garza and Judge Michael Reed, are members of the Executive Committee of the Kosciusko County Community Corrections Advisory Board. InkFreeNews photo by Lasca Randels. WARSAW —  Kosciusko County’s Community Corrections Department has suspended all new “hook-ups” for up to 30 days for offenders entering programs that rely on monitoring bracelets. The …read more.

WARSAW — At the Kosciusko County Council meeting held Thursday, Nov. 14, a grant request by Chief Deputy Prosecutor Brad Voelz and Kosciusko County Teen Court Director Betsey Vastbinder was approved. The $129,039 grant is through the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. Voelz requested permission to reapply for the grant in 2020.  Vastbinder introduced Lana Horoho, …read more.

  WARSAW — County Prosecutor Dan Hampton received permission from county commissioners to apply for a grant for the purpose of creating a child advocacy center. At the Kosciusko County Commissioners meeting held Tuesday, Oct. 29, Hampton told commissioners the grant is through the Bureau of Justice Assistance. Child advocacy centers have been around for …read more.

KOSCIUSKO — Kosciusko Commissioners approved an ordinance amendment updating filing fees at a meeting held Tuesday, June 25. At the Kosciusko County Area Planning Commission meeting held in April, Assistant Planning Director Matt Sandy presented a list of what Kosciusko County charges for filing fees compared to Whitley, Steuben, Elkhart, Fulton and Marshall counties. In …read more.

WARSAW — Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy students recently had the unique opportunity to learn more about the county’s judicial and criminal justice system from professionals of both the court and law enforcement fields. Students met at the Kosciusko County Courthouse and were welcomed by Superior Court 1 Judge David Cates, who commenced his term on …read more.

The following is the second part of a three-part series on jail capacity, crime and punishment and personal liberty. WARSAW — When a person is convicted of a crime that warrants a jail or prison sentence, those outside of the law enforcement or criminal justice community might believe that placing that person in a jail …read more.

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.