A little known fact about the Indiana Toll Road came to light at Wednesday night’s US 30 meeting in Warsaw, thanks to Don Zolman. The Warsaw farmer, who owns a trucking firm, contends that the increased truck traffic on US 30 — one of the reasons cited for the need to construct a new limited-access …read more.

WARSAW — A day before the start of a three-day jury trial, Sam Stimmel, 66, 7227 N. Syra-Web Road, North Webster, entered a plea agreement before Kosciusko Superior Court Judge David Cates. Stimmel pleaded guilty Monday, March 7, to Count II and Count III, both dealing in a synthetic or look-a-like substance, more than two …read more.

Jared Thomas Frantz WARSAW — Jared Thomas Frantz, 28, Syracuse, was sentenced Monday, Feb. 8, in Kosciusko Circuit Court on charges relating to the deaths of Korbin Foster and Kaleb Lampkin, both 17, who died June 1, 2015, in an accidental drowning. Frantz, who plead guilty to count one, dealing in a schedule 1 controlled …read more.

A proposed group home and boarding home in a residential district is not welcomed by 35 residents who signed a petition and at least seven residents who voiced objection at Monday evening’s Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals meeting. Listening to the residents, the board denied the request. John Kidd, a member of the board of directors …read more.

What does a hung jury mean? A person is not innocent, nor is that person guilty. It means, according to Mike Miner, Kosciusko County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, it was a “dry run.” This was the case Wednesday when the jury, in the state vs. Franklin L. Engle, could not unanimously decide if Engle was innocent …read more.

After four hours of deliberation, the six-man, six-woman jury could not reach a decision against Franklin Engle on count one of sexual misconduct with a minor, a class B felony. They found him not guilty on sexual misconduct with a minor on count two, also a class B felony. The jury foreman told Kosciusko Superior …read more.

Franklin Lewis Engle (EDITOR’S NOTE: While the victims of the sex crime were identified in open court, InkFreeNews has opted not to release the names of victims or their family members.) UPDATE: The case against Engle resumed at 2 p.m. today. At 2:44 p.m. it was handed over to the jury. The jury is currently …read more.

By Joni Truex KLA Public Information Director Kosciusko Leadership Academy met in the historic Kosciusko County courthouse recently to learn about the Kosciusko County Judicial System — both past and present — and law enforcement. Circuit Court Judge Michael W. Reed reviewed the history of the Kosciusko Judicial system. Superior 1 Court Judge Duane Huffer explained the current workings of our …read more.

Chad Miner Attorney Chad M. Miner has announced his candidacy for Judge of Superior Court 1. Currently Judge Duane Huffer will be retiring and not seeking re-election. Miner is a lifelong resident of Kosciusko County.  Originally from Pierceton, he currently lives in Silver Lake with his wife, Rachel, and works in Warsaw at Miner & …read more.

In exchange for a plea of guilty to dissemination of material harmful to children, two charges of D felony child solicitation were dropped against a Warsaw man who made two girls, ages 7 and 8, watch porn and exposed his genitals to them. Joseph Sturgill, 32, appeared before Kosciusko County Superior Court I Judge Duane Huffer …read more.

Jeremy Niebert Guilty on four charges, a Winona Lake man was sentenced to  work release for leading police on a pursuit in January that ultimately led to him climbing a tree to hide and requiring the fire department’s help to get down. (See related) Jeremy Neibert, 24, appeared before Judge Duane Huffer in Kosciusko County …read more.

The Warsaw man found in the Super 8 motel with a 14-year-old girl will spend some time in prison for pleading guilty to sexual misconduct. (See story) Christopher Allen Jr., 33, was sentenced in Superior Court I last week to 8 years in prison. Judge Duane Huffer handed down the sentence, suspending 6 years of …read more.

A week after the filing an injunction against Warsaw Community Schools attorney David Kolbe, the parents of a local Warsaw Community High School Student and soccer player, school officials and the family met in Kosciusko Superior Court 1 today before Judge Duane Huffer. According to Kolbe, the injunction was filed as a result of an …read more.

A Winona Lake woman who harmed her fiancé’s toddler was sentenced today to 6 years in prison. Karen Marie Bartley, 36, was arrested in January on a class B felony charge of neglect of a dependent/endangering life and causing serious bodily injury. In Kosciusko County Superior Court 1 this morning, Bartley’s plea of a class …read more.

Whitley County Circuit Court Judge James Heuer has been seated as a special judge to hear Paul H. Gingerich’s new waiver hearing. The request for a new judge was filed by Gingerich’s attorney, Monica Foster of Indianapolis, who successfully argued the boy’s appeal before the Indiana Court of Appeals, which was affirmed by the Indiana …read more.

Dana Shell A babysitter who acknowledged her role in a toddler’s death has accepted a plea that could send her to prison for less than 8 years. Dana Shell, 44, of Warsaw, was initially charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death, a class A felony; and reckless homicide, a class C felony. She …read more.

A Milford man arrested in October for felony child molesting was in court this morning to accept a plea deal. Kent Adam Flannery, 31, was charged for molesting a family member on Oct. 18, 2012. Child Protective Services brought the information to the police and indicated the incidents had possibly been occurring since 2008. Police …read more.

A former middle school teacher accused of inappropriate sexual relations with a student has been set to appear in court for a plea hearing. Tyler J. Baatz, 26, of Warsaw, was represented in Kosciusko County Superior Court I today by Fort Wayne attorney J. Michael Loomis this morning. During a pre-trial conference, Judge Duane Huffer …read more.

A Warsaw woman was sentenced to the Indiana Department of Corrections today when Kosciusko County Superior Court I Judge Duane Huffer revoked her probation. Amber Wirsing, 19, was first arrested in December 2010 in connection with strong-armed robberies of people in their homes. Wirsing and Tracey D. Russell, 21, of Florida, are accused of kicking …read more.

The latest court hearing regarding the sale of Oakwood took place mainly in the chambers of Kosciusko County Superior Court I Judge Duane Huffer Monday afternoon. Ian Rolland, receiver for Oakwood; his attorney, Tom Yoder; Rob Daniels, attorney for the Oakwood Property Owners Association; Mike Reed, attorney for the town of Syracuse; and a representative …read more.

Antonio Ortiz, age 14, of Milford, will remain at Pierceton Woods Juvenile Detention Center until his dispositional hearing at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19, in Kosciusko County Juvenile Court. Ortiz appeared in court last Thursday where, after waiving his rights, pleaded guilty to three charges against him that were filed after he took a knife to school. …read more.

One of three men involved in an April 19 robbery in Silver Lake was sentenced today in Kosciusko Superior Court I. Timothy Hackworth, 23, pleaded guilty to the class C felony crime relating to the April 19 robbery of the Silver Lake McClure Gas Station. Hackworth, along with Andrew Scott Asbury, 19, of North Manchester, and Harrison Henry …read more.

The suspect in a Tuesday night stabbing appeared in court this morning to be arraigned on a class C felony charge of battery with a deadly weapon. Kenny Ferguson, 61, 12021 N. Raggedy Ann, Cromwell, is accused of stabbing 27-year-old Joseph Lee Coon with a box cutter. Indiana State Police are investigating the case but …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.

Prior to her sentencing for a class C felony charge of sexual misconduct with a minor, Autumn Baldridge sobbed in the arms of her mother. “They’re gonna let me sit in here for a year,” she cried. But when Kosciusko County Superior Court I Judge Duane Huffer handed down the sentence, Baldridge’s demeanor changed. The …read more.

A hearing in Kosciusko Superior Court 1 today was held in the Dr. Dane Miller v. Brent Wilcoxson case. The hearing was set to determine a permanent restraining order on 13 properties at the center of the lawsuit. Dr. Miller is suing his former business partner in Winona Restoration Partners LLC, accusing Wilcoxson of wrongfully obtaining …read more.