Felony court news - Friday, Oct. 18, 2024

Child molesting

A Portland man was sentenced in two separate Jay County cases for child molesting.

Dominick A. Huffman, 23, 515 1/2 North Meridian St., Portland, pleaded guilty in Jay Circuit Court to child molesting, a Level 3 felony. He was sentenced to nine years in Indiana Department of Correction and given credit for time served. Huffman was ordered to pay a $500 sexual assault victims assistance fee and assessed $189 in court costs. As part of his plea agreement, a Level 5 felony for child exploitation and a Level 5 felony for possession of child pornography were dismissed.

In a separate case Jay Circuit Court, Huffman also pleaded guilty to child molesting, a Level 3 felony. He was sentenced to nine years in Indiana Department of Correction and given credit for time served. Huffman was assessed $189 in court costs and ordered to pay a $500 sexual assault victims assistance fee. As part of his plea agreement, other charges for child molesting, a Level 4 felony, and two counts of child exploitation, both Level 5 felonies, were dismissed.

Drunk driving

A Muncie woman was sentenced to jail for drunk driving.

Sierra D. Teal, 26, 308 N. Holland St., Muncie, pleaded guilty in Jay Superior Court to operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person with a passenger younger than 18, a Level 6 felony. She was sentenced to one year in Jay County Jail with all but 90 days suspended and given 90 days credit for time served. She was ordered to submit to an evaluation within 30 days of her sentencing for substance abuse counseling and placed on probation for 275 days. The court recommended Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles suspend her license for 180s retroactive to May 10, 2021. Teal was assessed $189.50 in court costs and ordered to pay a $200 drug and alcohol countermeasures fee. As part of her plea agreement, the following charges were dismissed: a Level 6 felony for operating a vehicle with a schedule I or schedule II controlled substance and a Class B misdemeanor for possession of marijuana.