Ashley Michelle Cummins

WARSAW — Ashley Michelle Cummins, 27, Mentone, was sentenced today in Kosciusko Circuit Court for charges of dealing in a narcotic drug, a lesser included offense as a level 5 felony, and neglect of a dependent, a level 5 felony.

Cummins was arrested in December 2016 when a Warsaw Police Officer witnessed a drug deal of methamphetamine at Cummins’ then Levi Lee Road, Warsaw, residence. Officers entered the residence and observed Cummins, Brian Julian, Warsaw, Tracy Julian, Warsaw, and a minor child in the residence.

Cummins had methamphetamine and heroin on her person and had just finished a deal of marijuana and narcotics. Officers then obtained a search warrant for the residence. They discovered a container of heroin, a piece of cotton that tested positive for methamphetamine, several hypodermic syringes, scales, grinders, smoking pipes, a plastic bag of marijuana and one Suboxone strip.

Brian Julian admitted to using methamphetamine at Cummins’ residence and that the heroin and methamphetamine belonged to him. He advised his wife Tracy injects heroin and the syringes found were for both of them. Tracy Julian admitted to officers that while at the residence she had injected .2 grams of heroin.

Officers found that the area where Cummins was dealing and the drugs were found was beside a room where the minor had been located. Hypodermic needles were located within 20 feet of the minor.

Cummins had failed rehabilitation this past summer, but told the court that since that occurrence she has been sober for the last three months.

Judge Michael Reed told Cummins that he didn’t believe that her desires to be clean were sincere. The court and the state felt forced sobriety was the only logical action.

Judge Reed sentenced Cummins to three years at the Indiana Department of Corrections for dealing in a narcotic and one year for neglect of a dependent, served consecutively. Purposeful incarceration was recommended.

Cummins asked the court for extra time to see her child before being taken into the custody of the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department. Judge Reed denied the request, leaving Cummins to tearfully say goodbye to her family without seeing her child.

Cummins will receive seven days served jail time credit

Brian Julian was sentenced in Kosciusko Circuit Court July 24, and Tracy Julian will be sentenced Dec. 18.