June 1, 2023 at 7:10 p.m.
Friday, June 2, 2023
Felony court news
Child molestation
A Portland man was sentenced to prison for child molestation.
Terry A. Evans, 63, 221 Pittsburg Ave., Portland, pleaded guilty but mentally ill to the Level 1 felony charge. He was sentenced to 30 years in Indiana Department of Correction. Evans was assessed $185 in court costs and ordered to pay a $500 sexual assault victim’s assistance fee.
He was given credit for time served and noted as a credit-restricted felon. A Level 4 felony charge for child molestation in a separate case was dismissed.
Sexual misconduct
A man was sentenced to prison for sexual misconduct with a minor.
Austin M. Keedy, 23, pleaded guilty in Jay Circuit Court to the Level 5 felony. He was sentenced to three years in Indiana Department of Correction with 18 months suspended and given credit for time served. Keedy was fined $1 and assessed $185 in court costs. As part of his plea agreement, a Level 5 felony for child solicitation and a Level 6 felony for dissemination of matter harmful to minors were dismissed.
Common nuisance
Two local residents were sentenced to jail after pleading guilty in Jay Superior Court to maintaining a common nuisance, a Level 6 felony.
Melissa A. Stiles, 47, 202 McDonald Drive, Winchester, was sentenced to one year in Jay County Jail with all but 60 days suspended and given 60 days credit for time served. Stiles was fined $25, assessed $185 in court costs and placed on probation for 305 days. As part of her plea agreement, a Level 6 felony for unlawful possession of a syringe and a Class C misdemeanor for possession of paraphernalia were dismissed.
Jeffrey L. Shope, 42, 1212 N. Franklin St., Portland, was sentenced to 180 days in Jay County Jail and given 22 days credit for time served. Shope was fined $25 and assessed $185 in court costs. As part of his plea agreement, a Class C misdemeanor for possession of paraphernalia was dismissed.
Battery
A Portland woman was sentenced to serve time in jail for domestic battery.
Bobbi L. Watson, 30, 607 E. Race St., Portland, pleaded guilty in Jay Superior Court to the Level 6 felony. She was sentenced to 730 days in Jay County Jail and given six days credit for time served. Watson was fined $25, assessed $185 in court costs, ordered to pay a $50 domestic violence prevention and treatment fee and placed on house arrest for 724 days.
Drunk driving
A Portland man was sentenced to jail after pleading guilty to drunk driving.
Anthony L. Rathbun, 56, 723 E. Race St., Portland, pleaded guilty in Jay Superior Court to operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Level 6 felony. He was sentenced to 730 days in Jay County Jail and given two days credit for time served. Rathbun was fined $1, assessed $185.50 in court costs and ordered to pay a $200 drug and alcohol countermeasures fee. He was placed on house arrest for 728 days and ordered to submit to an evaluation within 30 days of his sentencing for substance abuse counseling. The court recommended Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles suspend his license for one year retroactive to Nov. 8, 2021.
As part of his plea agreement, a Class B misdemeanor for leaving the scene of an accident and a Class A misdemeanor for operating a vehicle with alcohol concentration equivalent to 0.15% or more were dismissed.
Theft
An Ohio woman was placed on probation after she pleaded guilty to theft.
Ashley Egner, 34, 501 N. Walnut St., Union City, pleaded guilty to a Class A misdemeanor for the charge, which was originally filed in Jay Superior Court as a Level 6 felony. She was sentenced to one year in Jay County Jail with all but two days suspended and given two days credit for time served. Egner was fined $25, assessed $185 in court costs and placed on probation for 363 days.
As part of her plea agreement, a Class A misdemeanor for criminal trespassing was dismissed.
Criminal trespassing
A Dunkirk man was sentenced to jail after pleading guilty to criminal trespassing, a Level 6 felony.
Dakota C. Nicklay, 29, 218 S Meridian St., Dunkirk, pleaded guilty in Jay Superior Court. He was sentenced to one year in Jay County Jail and given 260 days credit for time served. Nicklay was assessed $185 in court costs. As part of his plea agreement, a Class A misdemeanor for invasion of privacy was dismissed.
A separate case in which he was charged with invasion of privacy, a Level 6 felony, and possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor, was dismissed.
A Portland man was sentenced to prison for child molestation.
Terry A. Evans, 63, 221 Pittsburg Ave., Portland, pleaded guilty but mentally ill to the Level 1 felony charge. He was sentenced to 30 years in Indiana Department of Correction. Evans was assessed $185 in court costs and ordered to pay a $500 sexual assault victim’s assistance fee.
He was given credit for time served and noted as a credit-restricted felon. A Level 4 felony charge for child molestation in a separate case was dismissed.
Sexual misconduct
A man was sentenced to prison for sexual misconduct with a minor.
Austin M. Keedy, 23, pleaded guilty in Jay Circuit Court to the Level 5 felony. He was sentenced to three years in Indiana Department of Correction with 18 months suspended and given credit for time served. Keedy was fined $1 and assessed $185 in court costs. As part of his plea agreement, a Level 5 felony for child solicitation and a Level 6 felony for dissemination of matter harmful to minors were dismissed.
Common nuisance
Two local residents were sentenced to jail after pleading guilty in Jay Superior Court to maintaining a common nuisance, a Level 6 felony.
Melissa A. Stiles, 47, 202 McDonald Drive, Winchester, was sentenced to one year in Jay County Jail with all but 60 days suspended and given 60 days credit for time served. Stiles was fined $25, assessed $185 in court costs and placed on probation for 305 days. As part of her plea agreement, a Level 6 felony for unlawful possession of a syringe and a Class C misdemeanor for possession of paraphernalia were dismissed.
Jeffrey L. Shope, 42, 1212 N. Franklin St., Portland, was sentenced to 180 days in Jay County Jail and given 22 days credit for time served. Shope was fined $25 and assessed $185 in court costs. As part of his plea agreement, a Class C misdemeanor for possession of paraphernalia was dismissed.
Battery
A Portland woman was sentenced to serve time in jail for domestic battery.
Bobbi L. Watson, 30, 607 E. Race St., Portland, pleaded guilty in Jay Superior Court to the Level 6 felony. She was sentenced to 730 days in Jay County Jail and given six days credit for time served. Watson was fined $25, assessed $185 in court costs, ordered to pay a $50 domestic violence prevention and treatment fee and placed on house arrest for 724 days.
Drunk driving
A Portland man was sentenced to jail after pleading guilty to drunk driving.
Anthony L. Rathbun, 56, 723 E. Race St., Portland, pleaded guilty in Jay Superior Court to operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Level 6 felony. He was sentenced to 730 days in Jay County Jail and given two days credit for time served. Rathbun was fined $1, assessed $185.50 in court costs and ordered to pay a $200 drug and alcohol countermeasures fee. He was placed on house arrest for 728 days and ordered to submit to an evaluation within 30 days of his sentencing for substance abuse counseling. The court recommended Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles suspend his license for one year retroactive to Nov. 8, 2021.
As part of his plea agreement, a Class B misdemeanor for leaving the scene of an accident and a Class A misdemeanor for operating a vehicle with alcohol concentration equivalent to 0.15% or more were dismissed.
Theft
An Ohio woman was placed on probation after she pleaded guilty to theft.
Ashley Egner, 34, 501 N. Walnut St., Union City, pleaded guilty to a Class A misdemeanor for the charge, which was originally filed in Jay Superior Court as a Level 6 felony. She was sentenced to one year in Jay County Jail with all but two days suspended and given two days credit for time served. Egner was fined $25, assessed $185 in court costs and placed on probation for 363 days.
As part of her plea agreement, a Class A misdemeanor for criminal trespassing was dismissed.
Criminal trespassing
A Dunkirk man was sentenced to jail after pleading guilty to criminal trespassing, a Level 6 felony.
Dakota C. Nicklay, 29, 218 S Meridian St., Dunkirk, pleaded guilty in Jay Superior Court. He was sentenced to one year in Jay County Jail and given 260 days credit for time served. Nicklay was assessed $185 in court costs. As part of his plea agreement, a Class A misdemeanor for invasion of privacy was dismissed.
A separate case in which he was charged with invasion of privacy, a Level 6 felony, and possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor, was dismissed.
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