Felony court news - Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025

Drunk driving

A Portland man was placed on house arrest after pleading guilty in Jay Superior Court to drunk driving.

John P. Randall, 46, 522 W. Water St., pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person with a passenger younger than 18 years old, a Level 6 felony. 

He was sentenced to 910 days in Indiana Department of Correction and given two days credit for time served. His sentence will be served on home detention. Randall was fined $1, assessed $189.50 in court costs and ordered to pay a $200 drug and alcohol countermeasures fee. The court also recommended Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles suspend his license for 910 days retroactive to Feb. 24.

As part of his plea agreement, the following charges were dismissed: a Level 6 felony for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Level 6 felony operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol level of 0.15% or more, a Level 6 felony for resisting law enforcement, a Class A misdemeanor for driving with a suspended license and a habitual offender enhancement.

Dealing drugs

A man was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty in Jay Circuit Court to dealing methamphetamine.

Harley H. Golder, 29, pleaded guilty to the Level 4 felony. He was sentenced to 10 years in Indiana Department of Correction and given credit for time served. Golder 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 program the court would consider modifying his sentence.

As part of his plea agreement, a Level 5 felony for possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony for maintaining a common nuisance and a Level 6 felony for unlawful possession of a syringe were dismissed.

Dependent neglect

A Berne man was placed on house arrest after he pleaded guilty to neglect of a dependent and leaving the scene of an accident.

Alexander J. Mathews, 24, 117 W. Parr Road, pleaded guilty in Jay Superior Court to neglect of a dependent and leaving the scene of an accident with bodily injury, both Class A misdemeanors.

He was sentenced to one year in Jay County Jail with all but 60 days suspended and given two days credit for time served. His sentence will be served on home detention. Mathews was fined $25, assessed $189.50 and placed on probation for 305 days.

As part of his plea agreement, the neglect of a dependent charge was lessened from a Class A misdemeanor. 

Drug possession

Two Jay County residents were sentenced to serve time for possession of methamphetamine.

Ernest Fifer II, 52, 203 E. Main Street, Bryant, pleaded guilty in Jay Superior Court to possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony. He also admitted to being a habitual offender. He was sentenced to one year in Indiana Department of Correction, and his sentence was enhanced to 1,460 days because of his habitual offender enhancement. Fifer was given 268 days credit for time served. He was fined $1, 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 maintaining a common nuisance, a Class A misdemeanor for possession of marijuana and a Class C misdemeanor for possession of paraphernalia were dismissed.

Cassandra M. Steinbrunner, 38, 310 South Middle St., Portland, pleaded guilty in Jay Superior Court to possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony. She was sentenced to 360 days in Jay County Jail with all but 60 days suspended and given 14 days credit for time served. Steinbrunner was fined $25, assessed $189 in court costs and ordered to pay a $200 drug abuse, prosecution, interdiction and correction fee. She was also placed on probation for 300 days.