Sentences were handed down Thursday morning to four individuals in Kosciusko Superior Court I by Judge David Cates. One individual found his entire sentence suspended while the others will be serving time in jail.
Ronnie E. Denham, 37, Old SR 15, Warsaw, was given two years based on a plea agreement for domestic battery, a level 6 felony. A second charge of domestic battery and a charge of stalking were dismissed. One year of the two-year sentence was suspended, to be served on probation, with credit being given for 179 days already served in jail. He was also ordered to seek anger management help, maintain employment, not own or possess a fire arm.
During the hearing the prosecution noted his prior criminal history of battery and assault, along with the impact of a child witnessing such behavior. Joseph Sobek, Denham’s attorney noted hardship to his client’s child if he was incarcerated and noted such a situation would not reoccur as a divorce has taken place and a protective order filed.
Denham himself stated there was no excuse for what has happened. Cates noted he needed to consider setting an example for his son.
Curtis B. Deturk, 22, 3 EMS B60D Lane, Warsaw, received a 2 1/2 year sentence for resisting law enforcement with one year suspended, to be served on probation. He was also given the opportunity to serve the remaining 1 1/2 years on work release if accepted. Restitution to the officer for medical expenses was ordered as well as substance and anger counseling. The sentence is to be served consecutive to a recent sentence for probation violation.
Additional charges of disorderly conduct and public intoxication were dismissed.
Again the accumulation of a criminal history as a juvenile and adult was brought to the court’s attention, with the recommendation by the prosecution for drug and alcohol treatment. Sobek, his attorney, asked for his client’s age to be taken into consideration and noted at the time of the offense a monumental event had occurred and he turned to alcohol to solve the problem. “He doesn’t want to be back here,” said Sobek adding the blood alcohol content at that time was the highest the courts had ever seen. “He’s lucky to be with us.”
Deturk told the court he wanted to “get the most I can out of this.”
“You are the person who can make the choice,” said Cates.
Kyle T. Kemper, 23, 125 Sophie Lane, Warsaw, was sentenced to one-year in the county jail, suspended to be served on probation, on a robbery charge from November 2014 when he robbed a pizza delivery man.
The prosecution noted the crime was committed because he needed to feed his family. It was stated there are agencies and organizations in the area he could have called, instead of terrifying a delivery man. Scott Reust, Kemper’s attorney, gave his clients educational background and noted surgery had robbed his family of income. “That’s not an excuse, but why he did that,” said Reust. Kemper currently is employed. A charge of theft was dismissed.
Kenneth S. Williams Jr., 34, 411 W. Porter St., Warsaw, formerly of Syracuse, was sentenced to 10 years to the Indiana Department of Corrections on a charge of unlawful possession of a fire arm by a serious violent felon and two years to the DOC on a charge of intimidation. The two sentences will be served concurrent.
The prosecution noted Williams extensive criminal history and the fact he was on bond when the last crime was committed. “It appears to me we continued this matter to maintain employment, but you chose not to,” stated Cates. The judge also noted it was not the court’s responsibility to babysit him 24/7.
While the state recommended probation upon release, Cates noted he saw no point in placing him on probation. “I expect you to function as a proper person in society. You’ve showed you can do it.”