Harkness Sentenced to 12 Years in DOC for Dealing in Meth

Starke County Courthouse
Starke County Courthouse
Several people pleaded guilty to charges against them and received their sentences in the Starke Circuit Court yesterday from Judge Kim Hall.

Bobby Harkness pleaded guilty to Dealing in Methamphetamine as a Class B felony and was sentenced to serve 12 years in the Department of Corrections with none suspended; however, if he completes the CLIFF or GRIP program offered by the Department of Corrections, he may petition the court for a modification of his sentence. He must first also complete the first ten years of his sentence before he can request the modification. The prosecutor dismissed a charge of Driving While Suspended as part of the plea deal.

Clayton Conley pleaded guilty to Habitual Traffic Violator as a Class D felony. The charge had been reduced from a C felony and the prosecutor dismissed a charge of Resisting Law Enforcement as part of the plea deal, and Conley must serve one year on home detention followed by one year of probation.

Bruce Banks was sentenced to 36 months in the Department of Corrections with none suspended for an amended count of Theft as a Class D felony, which had been reduced from a B-felony charge of Burglary. He must also pay $1149.98 in restitution to the victim. The court reserved the right to modify his sentence in the future, and has restricted him from making contact with the victim in the case.