WARSAW — A Warsaw teenager was waived to adult court and received a two-year jail sentence for committing a violent act and prosecutors say he has squandered at least one second chance.

Russell K. Harty

Russell Keigan Harty, 17, 1306 Oriole Drive, Warsaw, pleaded guilty on Sept. 13 to battery resulting in moderate bodily injury, a level 6 felony. On Thursday, Oct. 4, Harty appeared in Kosciusko County Superior Court 1 for sentencing from Judge David Cates.

Due to Harty’s initial juvenile status, most details of the case have not been made public A motion was approved to waive juvenile jurisdiction earlier this year with language that deemed Harty committed an act which would be a felony if committed by an adult. The motion read “the acts alleged are part of a repetitive pattern of behavior, he is beyond rehabilitation under the juvenile justice system and it is in the best interest of the safety and welfare of the respondent child and the community that respondent child stand trial as an adult.”

On Aug. 1, Harty was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail.

Before his sentencing, Prosecutor Brad Voelz said that at one time, Harty was thought to be a success story and added that many in the county’s justice system had high hopes for his rehabilitation until his most recent act. “I know what I did was my fault,” said Harty.

“You do have a juvenile criminal history,” said Cates. “I think you need to think long and hard about your peer selection because you can be a success story. You can excel. You can succeed.”

Cates sentenced Harty to two years in county jail and suspended the last year, while giving the defendant credit for 74 days served. He also told Harty that if he qualifies, he would authorize community corrections.