Brothers Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court

Starke County Courthouse
Starke County Courthouse
Two brothers were sentenced in Starke Circuit Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty in plea agreements with the state.

Frank Esparza, Jr., 20, was sentenced on a charge of Dealing in a Narcotic Drug (Heroin), a Class A felony. Judge Kim Hall sentenced Esparza, Jr. to 30 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections with no part of the sentence suspended. If he is placed in a therapeutic community while in prison and he successfully completes the program, he may petition the court to modify his sentence after he serves 20 years of his sentence. As part of the plea agreement, charges of Possession of a Narcotic Drug, Maintaining a Common Nuisance and Possession of a Syringe were dropped.

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Starke County Detectives Find Heroin at Rural Knox Home, Four Arrested

 
 

Officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department found heroin, drug paraphernalia and syringes while serving a search warrant at a home on Long Lane Drive this morning following a six-month-long narcotics investigation. Frank Esparza, Jr. faces charges of dealing heroin, possession of heroin, possession of syringes and maintaining a common nuisance. Maria Esparza was booked on a charge of maintaining a common nuisance, as was Tamara Esparza. She’s also charged with neglect of a dependent. A fourth suspect, Anthony Esparza, faces charges of maintaining a common nuisance, neglect of a dependent and possession of a syringe.