Joshua M. Emmons

WARSAW — A Silver Lake man will continue the Serenity House program after being sentenced in Kosciusko Circuit Court Monday, Dec. 10, in two drug-related cases.

In the first case, Joshua Michael Emmons, 33, 405 E. Sycamore St., Silver Lake, was charged with possession of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of a syringe, both level 6 felonies. In a second case, Emmons was charged with possession of methamphetamine, a level 6 felony; and possession of paraphernalia, a class C misdemeanor.

On Dec. 3, 2017, an officer with the Claypool Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling faster than the posted speed limit. Emmons was a passenger in the vehicle. The officer found a plastic bag containing methamphetamine in Emmons’ shoe and also observed a black bag containing four syringes in the passenger door compartment next to where Emmons was sitting.

On April 4, an officer with the Claypool Police Department observed a vehicle fail to give a proper turn signal. After conducting a traffic stop, officers removed Emmons from the front passenger seat. An officer observed a plastic bag containing a white residue in the passenger seat. The residue tested positive for methamphetamine.

Emmons is currently enrolled in the Serenity House program. Hoss Smith, Serenity House manager, was present at the sentencing.

“Joshua has accepted responsibility of his actions, and knows he needs the help,” said Smith. “He’s been in frequent self-help groups and has also kept and held a job.”

Defense attorney Scott Lennox said that Emmons is definitely going in the right direction to get proper treatment and help.

“This is the longest I’ve ever been sober,” said Emmons. “I just need the opportunity to keep it going.”

In the December 2017 case, Judge Michael Reed sentenced Emmons to three years in the Indiana Department of Corrections. Reed suspended the sentence and approved Emmons serving the sentence in community corrections. He also made it a requirement to continue the Serenity House residential program. Emmons has 208 days of jail time credit in the case.

In the April case, Reed sentenced Emmons to 1 1/2 years in the Department of Corrections for the possession of meth charge, and 60 days in the Kosciusko County Jail for the paraphernalia charge. Reed also suspended the Department of Corrections commitment in this case.

A third case related to the possession of a syringe was dismissed.