Two Guilty Pleas Entered In Starke Circuit Court Tuesday

Starke County Courthouse

Two people pleaded guilty to charges filed against them in the Starke Circuit Court on Tuesday.

William Baugh of Knox pleaded guilty to a charge of Receiving Stolen Property as a Class D felony. Baugh is accused of pawning several dozen collectible Zippo lighters that had been stolen from a woman in Knox for $300 in February. He also admitted to a probation violation.

Baugh’s attorney and the state had come to an agreed recommendation of 24 months in the Department of Corrections with none suspended, and Baugh would be required to pay a yet-to-be-determined amount in restitution to the victim. However, since the plea agreement deadline has passed, this is just a recommendation that Judge Kim Hall can accept, or he can deny it and sentence Baugh how he sees fit. The recommendation allows for the sentence to be served on home detention if the court permits.

A dispositional hearing and a sentencing hearing have been scheduled for Baugh on Sept. 27 at 9 a.m.

Samuel Singleton of Knox pleaded guilty to two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance as a Class D felony in court as well, along with a probation violation. He is charged with three counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance and one count of Visiting a Common Nuisance as a Class B misdemeanor, but the recommended agreement reached by the defense and the state would allow the misdemeanor and one felony charge to be dropped against Singleton.

The recommendation would place Singleton behind bars for 32 months, unless the court accepts the sentence to be served on home detention. His sentencing hearing is set for Oct. 10 at 9 a.m.