Sophia Elizabeth McMillan

WARSAW — The driver of a vehicle where a robbery and assault took place Thanksgiving Day 2014 was sentenced this morning, Dec. 17, in Kosciusko Superior Court I. Sophia E. McMillan, 21, 202 W. Hovey St., Atwood. McMillan received a suspended sentence on charges of robbery resulting in serious bodily injury.

Charges in other cases were also handled at the same time. Those charges were for possession of meth, false informing and failure to appear.

She received a total of nine and a half years.

Prior to suspending the sentences, Judge David Cates sentenced McMillan to six years to the Indiana Department of Correction on the robbery charge, two years to the IDOC for the possession of meth charge, 180 days for the false informing charge and one year for the failure to appear charge. All sentences will run consecutive. She will serve those sentences at the DOC if she violates probation.

W. Douglas Lemon, attorney for McMillan, addressed the court prior to sentencing. Lemon, who has worked with McMillan for some time, stated “This is a 21-year-old young lady here … two serious offenses … serious list of bad choices starting as a juvenile. At one point we thought she was starting to get it. In light of her progress last year … I think at this moment in time, Sophia is getting it … on the right track.”

Lemon shared a statement McMillan had made stating she was ‘so very thankful to be alive, sober and clean.’ He stated his client has been rolling down hill for almost a decade, choice after choice, hurdling toward possible death “… fully aware of the gravity of choices she made in her own life and the community.”

He referred to the possibility of probation as a “great big carrot” dangling in front of her, … hope she is here for the last time and seeing a way brighter future.”

McMillan said she has taken advantages of the opportunities given to her … “If I continue this path I’m going on, it will be the last time (I’m here). I have what it takes to complete this.”

Even Brad Voelz, deputy prosecuting attorney, stated everything she has said “rings true … appreciate her honesty …” He noted her criminal history is very balanced with these charges her first felonies. “I think she would benefit from short-term incarceration. The numbers after the levels are high, but her participation was minimal … any sentence you give should be long enough as serious leverage. Going to prison, not for weekends but years.”

Cates informed McMillan she should not misunderstand what he was about to do. “I don’t intend to see you back here either. It appears you’ve done pretty good and in all likelihood you have turned the corner and made amends with what you have done in the past.” Cates added, “I am putting some faith in the facts of what I heard. I’m giving you an opportunity … I hope you are successful and I appreciate the effort so far.”

Related: Fourth Robbery Suspect Arrested