Felony court news - Saturday, May 11, 2024

Arson

An Albany woman was sentenced to prison for arson.

Shelia Keeylen, 32, 324 W. State St., Albany, pleaded guilty in Jay Circuit Court to the Level 4 felony.

She was sentenced to three years in Indiana Department of Correction with 32 months suspended. Keeylen was given credit for time served and assessed $189 in court costs.

Drunk driving

Three Indiana residents were sentenced to jail for drunk driving.

Heath A. Byerly, 45, 78 S. Amanda Drive, Winchester, pleaded guilty in Jay Superior Court to operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a blood alcohol level of 0.15% or more, a Level 6 felony. He was sentenced to 730 days in Jay County Jail and given six days credit for time served. Byerly was assessed $189.50 in court costs and ordered to pay a $200 drug and alcohol countermeasures fee. The court recommended Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles suspend his license for one year retroactive to Jan. 11, 2021.  As part of his plea agreement, a Level 6 felony for operating a vehicle while intoxicated was dismissed, as well as a habitual offender enhancement.

John M. Vest, 52, 1932 E. Cardinal Drive, Albany, pleaded guilty in Jay Superior Court to operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Level 6 felony. He was sentenced to 910 days in Jay County Jail with all but 180 days suspended and given 30 days credit for time served. Vest was fined $25, assessed $189.50 in court costs and ordered to pay a $200 drug and alcohol countermeasures fee. He was also ordered to submit to an evaluation for substance abuse counseling. Vest was placed on probation for 730 days. The court recommended Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles suspend his license for one year retroactive to March 27, 2023. As part of his plea agreement, a Level 6 felony for operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol level of 0.15% or more was dismissed.

Peggy J. Roush, 4199 E. 900 South, Brookston, pleaded guilty in Jay Superior Court to operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Level 6 felony. She was sentenced to 540 days in Jay County Jail with 90 days suspended and given 12 days credit for time served. 

Auto theft

A rural Portland man was sentenced to prison for auto theft, a Level 6 felony.

Brian M. Ferner, 34, 1085 N. 600 East, pleaded guilty to the crime in Jay Superior Court. He was sentenced to one year in Indiana Department of Correction and given 156 days credit for time served. Ferner was fined $25 and assessed $189 in court costs. 

Unlawful possession

A Portland man was sentenced to jail for unlawful possession of a syringe.

Anthony T.J. Gregory, 35, 902 West North St., Portland, pleaded guilty in Jay Superior Court to the Level 6 felony. He was sentenced to one year in Jay County Jail and given 322 days credit for time served. Gregory was fined $25 and assessed $189 in court costs.

Meth possession

Several people were ordered to serve time for possession of methamphetamine.

Shawn R. Crabtree, 38, 33 North Sycamore 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 four days suspended and given four days credit for time served. Crabtree was fined $1, 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 for substance abuse counseling. As part of his plea agreement, a Class A misdemeanor for driving with a suspended license was dismissed.

Susan D. Gomes, 709 N. Jefferson St., Hartford City, 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 all but 120 days suspended and given 120 days credit for time served. Gomes was assessed $189 in court costs and ordered to pay a $200 drug abuse, prosecution, interdiction and correction fee. Gomes was also placed on probation for 245 days. As part of her plea agreement, a Class C misdemeanor for possession of paraphernalia was dismissed.

Jerricho T.P. Helmling, 33, 7030 Wayland Court, Indianapolis, 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 168 days credit for time served. Helmling 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, two Class C misdemeanors for possession of paraphernalia and refusal to identify self were dismissed.

Elizabeth M. Ball, 33, 527 E. 450 South, Portland, pleaded guilty in Jay Superior Court to possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony, and two counts of theft, both Class A misdemeanors. She was sentenced to 545 days in Jay County Jail with all but 70 days suspended and given 70 days credit for time served. Ball was fined $25, assessed $189 in court costs and ordered to pay a $200 drug abuse, prosecution, interdiction and correction fee. She was ordered to submit to an evaluation for substance abuse counseling. As part of her plea agreement, a Class C misdemeanor for possession of paraphernalia was dismissed.

Raven N. Howard, 26, pleaded guilty in Jay Circuit Court to possession of methamphetamine, a Level 5 felony. She was sentenced to three years in Indiana Department of Correction with two years suspended and given credit for time served. Howard was assessed $189 in court costs and ordered to pay a $200 drug abuse, prosecution, interdiction and correction fee. As part of her plea agreement, the following charges were dismissed: a Level 5 felony for possession of a narcotic drug, two Level 6 felonies for unlawful possession of a syringe and maintaining a common nuisance, a Class B misdemeanor for possession of marijuana and a Class C misdemeanor for possession of paraphernalia.

Robert W. Faris, 47, pleaded guilty in Jay Circuit Court to possession of methamphetamine, a Level 4 felony. He was sentenced to six years in Indiana Department of Correction with 54 months suspended and given credit for time served. He was recommended for purposeful incarceration, meaning upon completion of a substance abuse treatment program, the court would consider modifying his sentence. Faris 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: a Level 2 felony for dealing methamphetamine, a Level 5 felony for dealing methamphetamine and a Level 6 felony for maintaining a common nuisance.

Stephen M. Guntle, 44, pleaded guilty in Jay Circuit Court to possession of methamphetamine, a Level 3 felony. He was sentenced to 12 years in Indiana Department of Corrections and given credit for time served. Guntle was recommended for purposeful incarceration, meaning upon completing a substance abuse treatment program it would consider modifying his sentence. He 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, Guntle’s charge was lessened from a Level 2 felony. The following charges were also dismissed: a Level 6 felony for maintaining a common nuisance, a Level 6 felony for unlawful possession of a syringe, a Class A misdemeanor for possession of marijuana, a Class C misdemeanor for possession of paraphernalia and a habitual offender enhancement.

Benedicto Velazquez-Villalpando, 39, 3305 Reed St., Fort Wayne, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony. He was sentenced to one year in Jay County Jail with all but 10 days suspended and given 10 days credit for time served. Velazquez-Villalpando 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 possession of cocaine and a Class C misdemeanor for possession of paraphernalia were dismissed.

Phillip O. LeMaster, 67, 5849 E. 400 South, Salamonia, pleaded guilty in Jay Superior Court to possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony. He was sentenced to 730 days in Jay County Jail and given 216 days credit for time served. LeMaster was assessed $189 in court costs.

Jasmine K. Southerland, 22, 420 N. Monroe St., Hartford City, 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 all but two days suspended and given two days credit for time served. Southerland was fined $25, assessed $189 in court costs and ordered to pay a $200 drug abuse, prosecution, interdiction and correction fee. Southerland was also ordered to submit to an evaluation for substance abuse counseling. As part of her plea agreement, a Class B misdemeanor for possession of marijuana and a Class C misdemeanor for possession of paraphernalia were dismissed.

Shawn R. Crabtree, 38, 33 North Sycamore 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 four days suspended and given four days credit for time served. Crabtree was fined $1, 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 for substance abuse counseling. As part of his plea agreement, a Class A misdemeanor for driving with a suspended license was dismissed.