WARSAW — A Winona Lake woman received a suspended sentence for an incident where a bag of heroin reportedly fell from her purse while she was in line at the bank.

Danyelle Rebecca Palmer

Danyelle Rebecca Palmer, 26, 1216 Biblers Ave., Winona Lake, pleaded guilty on May 6, to possession of a narcotic drug, a level 6 felony. She appeared in Kosciusko County Circuit Court on Monday, June 17, for sentencing from Judge Michael Reed.

Palmer’s attorney, David Kolbe, told Reed his client is part of an ever-growing and sad statistic.

“My client is one in a long line of people who have become addicted,” Kolbe said. “She has an addiction problem.”

According to a report from the Warsaw Police Department, a Lake City Bank employee called police on March 12, when a bag containing what was suspected to be illegal drugs was found on the floor of the local branch. Bank personnel told police that Palmer had been the only customer during the time the bag, later confirmed as heroin, was discovered. Surveillance video also showed Palmer in line and showed the bag falling out of her purse.

Palmer told Reed during sentencing that she realizes addiction has been guiding her decision making.

“Knowing that you have a problem is only part of the solution,” said Reed. “There is some internal fortitude that has to take place.”

Reed sentenced Palmer to one year in the Kosciusko County Jail and suspended the sentence in lieu of probation. She received two days of credit for time served.