Winamac Man Sentenced For Possession Of Narcotics
KOSCIUSKO — A Winamac man was sentenced in the Kosciusko Circuit Court Monday, July 2, following an incident in March where Warsaw police responded to a report of a suspected impaired driver in the CVS parking lot.
Charles Edward Braun, 32, 4643 West CR 200N, Winamac, was found guilty of possession of a narcotic drug, a level 6 felony; and operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a class C misdemeanor.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, on March 4, Warsaw police were called to the CVS parking lot in response to a report of a suspected impaired driver. Police saw a parked vehicle that was not in a designated parking space. A female exited the vehicle and walked to the driver’s side of the vehicle.
Braun was sitting in the driver’s seat, appearing disoriented and displaying jerky body movements. Officers contacted emergency medical services for Braun, who was uncoordinated and confused.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, police searched the vehicle and discovered an uncapped syringe and an aluminum can containing a white residue. Both the syringe and residue tested positive for heroin.
The female admitted that she and Braun came from Winamac to Warsaw in order to purchase heroin. Braun admitted that he used heroin before leaving a motel.
Judge Michael Reed sentenced Braun to one year in the Kosciusko County Jail for the charge of possession of a narcotic drug. Braun was sentenced to 60 days in the Kosciusko County Jail for the charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated. The sentences were ordered to be served concurrently but consecutive to any sentence imposed in any other pending cases.
Reed stated he would have no objection to Braun serving his sentence through Kosciusko County Work Release or Kosciusko County Community Corrections, provided Braun is qualified and accepted into one of the programs.
Braun was given one day of jail time credit and ordered to pay court costs and fines. Reed also ordered that Braun’s driver’s license be suspended for 60 days beginning on his first day of release.
One charge was dismissed pursuant to the plea agreement.