KOSCIUSKO — Shortly before midnight on June 23, a Kosciusko County jail officer located a cellphone, charger and 12 unidentified pills inside a trash can in the women’s public restroom of the jail lobby. Because of prior information obtained by NET 43, investigators had been conducting surveillance on inmate Christopher Susaraba, 25, Warsaw.

The restroom discovery was forwarded to NET 43 detectives, who then backtracked communication between Susaraba, inmate Christopher Castle, 30, Warsaw; and Morgan Hepler, 29, Mishawaka. Through coded messages, detectives ascertained that Hepler was tasked with delivering the phone, charger and Vyvance, a schedule II narcotic, to the jail. Investigators intercepted Hepler on June 24 at the Kosciusko County Jail while participating in a video visitation.

Following an interview, Hepler was processed into the Kosciusko County Jail on a charge of trafficking with an inmate. Additional charges were filed against Castle, who has been incarcerated since March 12, and Susaraba, who has been incarcerated since March 6.

Hepler, Susaraba and Castle are each being charged with trafficking with an inmate, a level 5 felony; all are being held on a $10,250 surety and cash bond. Castle also is being charged with dealing in a schedule II controlled substance, a level 6 felony.

NET 43 was assisted by the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office and the Kosciusko County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Narcotics Enforcement Team (NET) 43 is a collaborative law enforcement unit consisting of officers from the Warsaw and Winona Lake Police Departments, the Indiana State Police and the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office. NET 43 can be contacted via e-mail at [email protected] or by telephone at (574) 372-2494.