Sentences Handed Down in Starke Circuit Court

Starke County Courthouse
Starke County Courthouse
Three people received their sentences in the Starke Circuit Court today on a variety of charges, including Battery, Check Fraud, and Dealing in Methamphetamine.

Joseph Esposito faced two causes in the court and pleaded guilty to charges in both cases. Esposito pleaded guilty as part of a plea agreement to four counts of Battery as Class C felonies and the prosecutor dismissed three counts of Intimidation. Esposito was sentenced to three years in the Department of Corrections for the charges of Battery and a no-contact order with the victim remains in effect. He also pleaded guilty to Possession of Marijuana with a Prior Conviction and was sentenced to 12 months in the Department of Corrections, all of which were suspended. That sentence will run consecutively to his other sentence for a total of three years in the DOC followed by one year of probation.

Meanwhile, Derrick Crockett received a discretionary sentence in the court for a charge of Dealing in Methamphetamine as a Class B felony that he had pleaded guilty to in January. He will serve 10 years in the DOC with none suspended, but if he successfully completes the CLIFF or GRIP program, he can petition the court in the future to modify his sentence. Charges of Possession of Precursors or Chemical Reagents were dismissed.

Abigail Lewis pleaded guilty to three counts of Check Fraud as Class D felonies and was sentenced to 12 months on each count to be served concurrently. Her sentence was suspended and will be served on probation, and she is required to pay $574.06 in restitution to the victim. After completion of her probation, she can petition the court for her felonies to be reduced to misdemeanors, but the court reserves the right to object.