Holle To Serve Two Years For Child Pornography
WARSAW — A Warsaw man who was arrested in November 2016 for having more than 1,000 images of child pornography was sentenced today, May 1, in Kosciusko Circuit Court with Judge Michael Reed presiding.
Bart Lane Holle, 57, Warsaw, was sentenced on two counts of possession of child pornography, both level 5 felonies.
Holle’s arrest was a coordinated effort between the Indiana State Police Crimes Against Children, the Warsaw Police Department, the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office and the Butler Police Department.
On Nov. 15, Holle was located at his job in Nappanee by troopers and taken back to his home at 505 Alward St., Warsaw, where he was later placed under arrest. Officers had obtained a search warrant for Holle’s home and cellular phone where they discovered more than 1,000 illegal images of children.
CAC Trooper Gretchen Smith led the investigation of Holle working as a member of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC). Smith said she received information on Holle from a local cellular telephone store when he attempted to have pornographic images of children transferred to a new phone.
Prosecuting attorney Daniel Hampton advised the court that Holle had taken responsibility for his actions, cooperating fully with the investigation.
When Holle spoke to the court he said he was sorry he had looked at the pictures, advising he didn’t realize it was wrong at the time. “I never meant to harm anyone in anyway,” stated Holle, further saying that he will never look at such pictures again.
After Holle asked forgiveness, Judge Reed explained that forgiveness is not the court’s job.
Judge Reed accepted Holle’s plea agreement, finding him guilty of two counts of possession of child pornography, level 5 felonies, and dismissing one count of possession of marijuana.
For those two counts Holle received three years each at the Kosciusko County Jail, to be served concurrently, with one year suspended on probation.
Holle will be able to serve his time on work release if he is approved. He will receive three days jail time credit for time already served.