Felony court news - Friday, Feb. 28, 2025

Nonsupport

A Huntington woman was sentenced to jail for nonsupport of a dependent.

Jessica Butcher, 33, 1718 Park St., Huntington, pleaded guilty in Jay Superior Court to the Level 6 felony. She was sentenced to 910 days in Jay County Jail with all but 180 days suspended and given 142 days credit for time served. 

Butcher was assessed $189 in court costs and placed on probation for 730 days. She was ordered to pay $5,115.82 in restitution to Elizabeth A. Brotherton for the benefit of her child.

Intimidation

A Pennville man was sentenced to jail for intimidation.

Steven E. Geesaman, 47, 6327 W. Walnut Corner Road, Pennville, pleaded guilty in Jay Superior Court to the Level 6 felony. He was sentenced to 910 days in Jay County Jail with all but 428 days suspended and given 428 days credit for time served. 

Geesaman was fined $25, assessed $189 in court costs and placed on probation for 482 days. As part of his plea agreement, a Class A misdemeanor for criminal trespassing was dismissed.

Justice obstruction

A Muncie man was sentenced to prison for obstruction of justice and other charges.

Bobby J. Nealy, 43, 1200 East 18th St., Muncie, pleaded guilty in Jay Superior Court to possession of methamphetamine and obstruction of justice, both Level 6 felonies. He was sentenced to 540 days in Indiana Department of Correction and given 32 days credit for time served. 

He was assessed $189.50 in court costs and ordered to pay a $200 drug abuse, prosecution, interdiction and correction fee. As part of his plea agreement, a habitual offender enhancement was dismissed.

Resisting law

An Indianapolis man was sentenced to jail for resisting law enforcement.

Jeantinel Zephirin, 39, 3930 Breen Drive, Indianapolis, pleaded guilty in Jay Superior Court to a Class A misdemeanor, a lesser charge. (It was originally filed as a Level 6 felony.) He was sentenced to one year in Jay County Jail with all but eight days suspended and given eight days credit for time served. 

Zephirin was fined $500, assessed $189 in court costs and placed on probation for 357 days. As part of his plea agreement, a Class C misdemeanor for driving without a license was dismissed.

Drug possession

Four Indiana residents were sentenced to serve time for drug possession.

Cheyenne P. Petro, 30, 519 South Spencer St., Redkey, 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 of her sentence suspended. Petro was fined $25, assessed $189 in court costs and ordered to pay a $200 drug abuse, prosecution, interdiction and correction fee. She was placed on probation for one year. As part of her plea agreement, a Class B misdemeanor for possession of marijuana was dismissed. In a separate Jay Superior Court case, Petro pleaded guilty to another county of possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony. She was sentenced to one year in Jay County Jail with all but 60 days of her sentence suspended and given four days credit for time served. (Petro’s sentence will be served consecutively to the first sentence.) She was placed on probation for 305 days, fined $25, assessed 189 in court costs and ordered to pay a $200 drug abuse, prosecution, interdiction and correction fee.

Curtis W. Mock, 42, 8179 E. 550 North, Pennville, pleaded guilty in Jay Circuit Court to possession of methamphetamine, a Level 4 felony. He was sentenced to 10 years in Indiana Department of Correction with four years suspended and given credit for time served. Mock was placed on probation, assessed $189 in court costs and ordered to pay a $200 drug abuse, prosecution, interdiction and correction fee.

Jacob J. Westlake, 34, 3012 East Royerton Road, Muncie, pleaded guilty in Jay Superior Court to possession of a narcotic drug, a Level 6 felony. He was sentenced to one year in Jay County Jail and given 316 days credit for time served. Westlake was fined $25, assessed $189 in court costs and ordered to pay a $200 drug abuse, prosecution, interdiction and correction fee.

Robert J. Balle, 52, 623 ½ E. Votaw St., Portland, pleaded guilty in Jay Circuit Court to  possession of methamphetamine, a Level 5 felony. His charge was lessened from a Level 4 felony. He was sentenced to three years in Indiana Department of Correction and given credit for time served. Balle 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, a habitual offender enhancement was dismissed.

Handgun possession

A Goshen man is serving time in prison for unlawful possession of a handgun.

Matthew V. Orlando, 43, 1108 Hickory St., pleaded guilty in Jay Circuit Court to the Level 5 felony. He was sentenced to four years in Indiana Department of Correction and given credit for time served. Orlando was assessed $189 in court costs. The court ordered Indiana Department of Correction to provide a mental health assessment and treatment for Orlando.

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 for operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol level of 0.15% or more, a Class A misdemeanor for resisting law enforcement, a Class A misdemeanor for possession of marijuana, a Class C misdemeanor for violating driving conditions, a Class C misdemeanor for possession of paraphernalia and a habitual offender enhancement.