WARSAW — A teenager from Anderson was sentenced in Kosciusko County Superior Court I Thursday, Nov. 21.

Tavion Beard, 17, 2030 Dewey St., Anderson, pleaded guilty to escape, a level 5 felony. 

According to the affidavit of probable cause, on Sept. 2, 2018, Beard and two other minors escaped from Pierceton Woods Academy, a detention facility.

The three surrendered to police the following day. One of the three told police that during the time they were outside of detention, they were in Pierceton and getting into unlocked cars to search for valuables and money. One of the minors admitted to gaining entry to an unlocked vehicle where they found a loaded handgun. The minor removed the gun from a case and handed it to Beard, who kept it.

The minor said that before they surrendered to police, they dumped all of the stolen items, including the gun, outside of a residence. 

A Pierceton Woods Academy youth treatment specialist spoke with the other two minors and was told that Beard wanted the gun to obtain money and that he had talked about going back to Pierceton Woods Academy with the handgun with unknown intentions. 

Beard was convicted of dangerous possession of a firearm in May 2018 in Madison County Circuit Court II.

In court Thursday, Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Brad Voelz told Judge David Cates that Beard has accumulated “quite a record in his young life.”

Beard’s attorney, Austin Rovenstine, told Judge Cates that this is Beard’s first time in adult court and the first time he’ll face adult consequences. Rovenstine told the judge that Beard has accepted responsibility for his actions.

Cates acknowledged Beard’s youth and his acceptance of responsibility but noted Beard has an extensive juvenile record.

“You’ve now moved into adult court, which means you haven’t learned your lesson,” said Cates.

Beard was sentenced to two years in the Indiana Department of Corrections. He was given two days of jail time credit.

“Mr. Beard, you’re on the wrong path. I hope you make better choices in the future,” Cates said.