Mack Samuel Stokes WARSAW — Mack Samuel Stokes, 43, 4330 N. Old SR 15 Lot 41, Warsaw, was sentenced today for a level 5 felony of burglary. Stokes is to serve six years at the Indiana Department of Corrections, with four of those years suspended. Stokes was given jail-time credit of 680 days. As part …read more.

Miguel Raymond Castro WARSAW — Miguel Raymond Castro, 22, 701 S. Robinson Lake Road, Pierceton, was sentenced today, Thursday, June 9, on a level 6 felony of theft. He is to serve 1 1/2 years in the Koscisuko County Jail, with five days jail-time credit and must pay restitution to Builder’s Mart in the amount …read more.

Mitchell Patrick Hall WARSAW — Mitchell Patrick Hall, 44, 920 Anchorage Road, Warsaw, was sentenced sentenced today, Thursday, June 9, in Superior Court I for residential entry, a level 6 felony. His other charge of intimidation was dismissed. Hall will serve 2 1/2 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections, with 1 1/2 years of that sentence …read more.

Michael Alan Cavender WARSAW — Michael A. Cavender, 49, 604 E. Miami Drive, Syracuse, was sentenced today, May 5, in Superior Court I on a count of battery, a level 6 felony. Cavender was sentenced for striking a man several times in the mouth while the man was sitting in the driver’s seat of his …read more.

WARSAW — A month and a half after entering a plea agreement in Kosciusko County Superior Court I, Samuel S. Stimmel, 66, 7227 N. Syracuse-Webster Road, North Webster, was sentenced to three years’ incarceration in the Kosciusko County Jail, to be suspended and served on probation. Stimmel was sentenced to one and a half years in …read more.

WARSAW — A group of local citizens stepped up Tuesday evening, March 1, and agreed to be advocates for Kosciusko County children who are somehow caught up in the court system. Kosciusko County Superior Court I Judge David Cates swore in nine of the 11 individuals who completed training to become Court Appointed Special Advocates. With the new volunteers …read more.

WARSAW — A case involving a Syracuse man who permanently injured a female victim has been continued to 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, in Kosciusko County Superior Court I. Ink Free News previously reported that Justin Doyle Anderson, 33, 118 N. Lake St., Syracuse, was arrested Wednesday, Aug. 26, after he allegedly assaulted a female …read more.

Joshua J. Kats WARSAW — Despite the pre-sentence investigation report that Joshua Kats would be a low risk to re-offend, Kosciusko Superior Court I Judge David Cates pointed out several factors that appeared to give him some doubt. Joshua J. Kats, 24, 1822 Sharon St., Warsaw, was sentenced to concurrent terms (served at the same …read more.

Terren Michael Raphael, 24, 2441 W 250S, Warsaw, received a 15-year sentence for molesting an 11-year-old on several occasions in 2008 and 2009. Raphael was sentenced in Kosciusko County Superior Court 1. Judge David Cates accepted Raphael’s plea agreement, filed on Jan. 29, earlier this week. That agreement stated Raphael would plead guilty to count …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.

It is an unusual year for Kosciusko County courts as two judicial seats are opening up. It is also uncommon to have contests in the races, but this year, a total of six candidates are vying for the two open seats in Superior I and Superior II courts. During a judicial forum last night, sponsored …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.

Alejandro Santamaria, 23, of 902 Anchorage Rd. Lot 117, Warsaw, is facing a single felony charge of child molesting after he allegedly had inappropriate sexual relations with a 5-year-old relative in 2007. Santamaria, who was arrested Monday, is accused of molesting the girl in the summer of 2007 in a Warsaw home. The investigation began …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.

Tyler Baatz, 26, was arrested in August on felony charges of child seduction and sexual misconduct, class D and class B felonies respectively. Today, the former middle school teacher was sentenced to prison for his crime. Just before Judge Duane Huffer handed down his sentence, Baatz said he is deeply sorry for the pain he …read more.

Bill Warren The man at the center of a four-day trial in Kosciusko County was due to be sentenced today, but instead will have to wait until 9 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 20, to learn how many years he will serve in prison. Bill Warren, 38, of North Manchester, was found guilty last month following four …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.

A jury of 7 men, 5 women and 2 female alternates has begun hearing details on a criminal confinement case that has resulted in 27 felony charges against Bill Warren. Warren, 38, of North Manchester, is accused of confining a female victim to a tree and in a bedroom of his home and repeatedly sexually …read more.

A former middle school teacher was back in court today to accept a plea for inappropriate sexual conduct with a minor. Tyler Baatz, 26, was arrested in August on felony charges of child seduction and sexual misconduct, Class D and Class B felonies respectively. Initially, Baatz pleaded not guilty to both counts, but in Kosciusko …read more.

A Kosciusko County man charged with stabbing another man in a Syracuse fight earlier this year was sentenced today to probation. Scott Koontz, 20, was arrested April 8 after police were called to a fight where Tyler Niles, 24, was stabbed in the neck. Niles suffered several stab wounds and was rushed to the hospital …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.

Bill Warren A 38-year-old North Manchester man has had his jury trial continued once again. Bill Warren was scheduled to go to trial in Kosciusko County Superior Court I this morning, but on Friday his attorney, Alan J. Zimmerman, filed a motion to continue. The trial is now set for Nov. 13-15. Warren, 38, of …read more.

Tyler Baatz (UPDATE: Warsaw Community Schools Superintendent Dr. Craig Hintz tells StaceyPageOnline.com that Baatz has now been placed on unpaid suspension. “After further review with school corporation legal counsel and due to the severity of the violation, EMS Teacher Tyler Baatz has been placed on suspension without pay until the matter is resolved,” Hintz said in an …read more.