Derek Michael Bruner

Derek Michael Bruner, 25, 410 Kincaide St., Warsaw, was given a Christmas present from Superior Court Judge Duane Huffer this morning. Bruner was given probation for his role in the Sept. 12, North Webster KeyBank robbery. (See Money Recovered In Bank Robbery)

Bruner entered a guilty plea to obstruction of justice, a level 6 felony, on Dec. 2, which Huffer took under advisement. This morning Huffer accepted the plea and handed down the sentence. Counts two and three, assisting a criminal and theft, were dismissed.

Bruner was placed on one-year probation. “Probation is a matter of grace,” said Huffer adding, “it is to be complied with. If you don’t mess with this and are successful, the charge will be reduced to a class A misdemeanor. I want it to be a class A misdemeanor.”

Mike Miner, deputy prosecuting attorney, stated “It was a stupid thing to do,” and noted while he has a criminal history the history shows minor problems.

Huffer agreed not only was it a “stupid thing to do,” as Miner stated, but “I think it was very stupid. I remember you (in another case) and I am quite disappointed. I expected more out of you. It was really stupid, very stupid. You need to do the right thing.”

Bruner apologized for what he did. “I learned from my mistakes.”