Bethany Ann Moore

WARSAW — A Mentone woman was sentenced in Kosciusko Circuit Court Monday, April 30, after being arrested in August on drug charges. 

Bethany Ann Moore, 28, 306 S. Franklin St., Mentone, was found guilty of unlawful possession of a syringe, a level 6 felony. 

Court documents show that police were called to the Franklin Street residence after a juvenile found a syringe that contained a liquid inside the residence. The items were given to police, and through a field test, the liquid and syringe tested positive for methamphetamine.

Police obtained a search warrant for the residence, which was served on Moore. She told police she shared the room with another female. During a search of the room, police found three syringes containing a clear fluid, eight new syringes, 29 used syringes, 18 smoking devices with burnt residue and drug paraphernalia with white residue.

Police field-tested the liquid and white residue, which tested positive for methamphetamine. The residue found on spoons field-tested positive for heroin.

Officers also found four juveniles residing at the residence.

Attorney Scott Reust informed the court during sentencing that Moore has been working with the Department of Child Services, has completed the MRT Program through the Otis R. Bowen Center and has had no failed drug screens. 

“It does look like you’ve taken appropriate action to address the underlying problem,” said Judge Michael Reed. “However, the battle isn’t over.”

Reed sentenced Moore to one and a half years in the Kosciusko County Jail and ordered that the sentence be suspended and served on formal probation. Moore was given jail time credit of five days and ordered to pay court costs and a minimum $200 drug interdiction fee. 

Reed advised Moore that he would not order her to get a sponsor but highly recommended it.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, two other charges were dismissed.