Felony court news - Friday, Jan. 17, 2025

Methamphetamine

Several people were sentenced in Jay courts to serve time for possession of methamphetamine.

James B. Young, 47, 307 E. High St., Redkey, pleaded guilty in Jay Superior Court to possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony. He was sentenced to 545 days in Jay County Jail with all but 90 days suspended and given four days credit for time served. Young was placed on probation for 451 days, fined $25 and assessed $189 in court costs and ordered to pay a $200 drug abuse, prosecution, interdiction and correction fee. He was also ordered to submit to an evaluation within 30 days for substance abuse counseling. Young was placed on home detention. As part of his plea agreement, Level 6 felonies for possession of a narcotic drug, unlawful possession of a syringe and maintaining a common nuisance were dismissed. 

Harleigh C. Zigler, 28, 3606 S. 1000 West, Dunkirk, pleaded guilty in Jay Superior Court to possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony. She was sentenced to one year in Jay County Jail with 355 days suspended and given 10 days credit for time served. As part of her plea agreement, a Level 6 felony for neglect of a dependent and a Class C misdemeanor for possession of paraphernalia were dismissed.

Payton C. Folkerth, 26, 317 W. Pleasant St., Dunkirk, pleaded guilty in Jay Circuit Court to possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony. He was sentenced to two years in Indiana Department of Corrections. Folkerth was assessed $189 in court costs and ordered to pay a $200 drug abuse, prosecution, interdiction and correction fee. As part of his plea agreement, two Level 6 felonies for unlawful possession of a syringe and maintaining a common nuisance were dismissed. A habitual offender enhancement was also dismissed. In a separate case, Folkerth pleaded guilty to a separate charge for possession of methamphetamine, another Level 6 felony. He was sentenced to two years in Indiana Department of Correction — his sentence will be served consecutive to the aforementioned sentence — and given credit for time served. Folkerth was assessed $189 in court costs and ordered to pay a $200 drug abuse, prosecution, interdiction and correction fee. As part of his plea agreement, the following charges were dismissed: two level 6 felonies for maintaining a common nuisance and unlawful possession of a syringe and a Class C misdemeanor for possession of paraphernalia. Folkerth was recommended for purposeful incarceration, meaning upon completing a substance abuse treatment program the court would consider modifying his sentences.

Rayna Garringer, 34, 313 West Oak St., Union City, pleaded guilty in Jay Circuit Court to possession of methamphetamine, a Level 3 felony. She was sentenced to nine years in Indiana Department of Correction with five years suspended and given credit for time served. Garringer was placed on probation, fined $1, assessed $189 in court costs and ordered to pay a $200 drug abuse, prosecution, interdiction and correction fee. She was recommended for purposeful incarceration, meaning upon completing a substance abuse treatment program the court would consider modifying his sentence.

Joshua M. Best, 41, pleaded guilty to possession of a narcotic drug, a Level 5 felony. He was sentenced to four years in Indiana Department of Correction and given credit for time served. Best was assessed $189 in court costs and ordered to pay a $200 drug abuse, prosecution, interdiction and correction fee.

Paul M. Hiser, 49, 202 Gwendolyn St., Fort Recovery, pleaded guilty in Jay Superior Court to possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony. He was sentenced to 180 days in Jay County Jail and given 154 days credit for time served. Hiser was fined $25, assessed $189 in court costs and ordered to pay a $200 drug abuse, prosecution, interdiction and correction fee. As part of his plea agreement, the following charges were dismissed: a Level 6 felony for unlawful possession of a syringe, a Class B misdemeanor for possession of marijuana and a Class C misdemeanor for possession of paraphernalia.

Tanna M. Clark, 45, 213 North Meridian St., Dunkirk, pleaded guilty in Jay Superior Court to possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony. She was sentenced to 540 days in Jay County Jail with all but 90 days suspended and given 90 days credit for time served. Clark was placed on probation for 450 days, fined $25, assessed $189 in court costs and ordered to pay a $200 drug abuse, prosecution, interdiction and correction fee. As part of her plea agreement, a Class C misdemeanor for possession of paraphernalia was dismissed.

Justin E. Bragg, 33, 3606 S. 1000 West, Dunkirk, pleaded guilty in Jay Superior Court to possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony.  He was sentenced to one year in Jay County Jail with all but 60 days suspended and given two days credit for time served. Bragg was placed on probation for 305 days, assessed $189 in court costs and ordered to pay a $200 drug abuse, prosecution, interdiction and correction fee. As part of his plea agreement, a Level 6 felony for neglect of a dependent and a Class C misdemeanor for possession of paraphernalia were dismissed.

Narcotics

A man was sentenced to jail for possession of narcotics.

Nicholas A. Noggler, 30, pleaded guilty in Jay Circuit Court to possession of a narcotic drug, a Level 5 felony. He was sentenced to three years in Indiana Department of Correction and given credit for time served. 

Noggler was assessed $189 in court costs and ordered to pay a $200 drug abuse, prosecution, interdiction and correction fee. He was recommended for purposeful incarceration, meaning upon completing a substance abuse treatment program the court would consider modifying his sentence.