Neal Minnick

WARSAW — A Syracuse man received a 17-year prison sentence after accepting a plea deal for drug dealing and other charges in Kosciusko Circuit Court Monday, Jan. 6.

Neal Ryan Minnick, 40, 202 E. Washington St., Syracuse, pleaded guilty to six charges in two separate cases. A third case was dismissed pursuant to the plea agreement. 

Minnick pleaded guilty to dealing in methamphetamine, a level 2 felony; dealing in a narcotic drug, a level 2 felony; criminal gang activity, a level 6 felony; possession of methamphetamine, a level 4 felony; driving as a habitual traffic violator, a level 3 felony; and operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a class C misdemeanor. 

In March 2018 an officer with the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office responded to an automobile accident. The driver of the vehicle was slumped over the steering wheel. 

The officer identified the driver as Minnick, whose speech was slurred and his eyes were bloodshot. The officer discovered that the status of Minnick’s Indiana driver’s license status is habitual traffic violator for life. 

Minnick was arrested and searched. The officer found a glass smoking device and a plastic bag containing 20 grams of methamphetamine on Minnick.

In November 2017, Warsaw Drug Task Force conducted a controlled purchase of 7.7 grams of methamphetamine from Minnick. The purchase was captured on audio and video. Following the purchase, officers obtained a search warrant for Minnick’s residence. Upon serving the warrant, police found 98 grams of methamphetamine, along with other illegal drugs and a .40 caliber handgun. Minnick allegedly admitted that he was a member of a gang at that time. 

Kosciusko County Prosecuting Attorney Daniel Hampton acknowledged that Minnick has accepted responsibility for what he’s done and has taken steps to correct his behavior.

“The bottom line is that Neal had a history of being a substantial dealer in our community,” Hampton said.

Minnick’s attorney, John Barrett, said Minnick has “gone above and beyond” in helping others since he has been incarcerated rather than focusing solely on himself.

In September 2019, Minnick was part of Kosciusko County’s first graduating Jail Chemical Addiction Program class made up of men. 

Kosciusko County Sheriff Kyle Dukes singled Minnick out at the beginning of the JCAP graduation ceremony, saying he put Minnick in charge of the JCAP team because Minnick cares and is a leader.

“I want to publicly say thank you for holding these guys accountable,” Dukes said to Minnick at the time. “Thank you for bringing them up when they need to be brought up. Thank you for having their backs.”

Minnick addressed Judge Michael Reed to apologize for his past actions. 

“When I committed those offenses, I was a sick and broken man,” Minnick said. “I was an addict trying to support my habit. I’m sorry for all of this.”

Reed applauded Minnick’s acceptance of responsibility and the positive changes he has made during his period of incarceration but pointed out that actions require consequences.

“We can’t do anything about what we’ve done,” Reed said. “We can only make amends and move forward.”

Reed sentenced Minnick to 10 years at IDOC for the charge of dealing in methamphetamine, 10 years at IDOC for dealing in a narcotic drug and one year at IDOC for criminal gang activity. The sentences for the first two charges were ordered to be served concurrently but consecutive to the sentence imposed in the third charge and the sentence imposed in the second case. 

Minnick was sentenced to four years at IDOC for possession of methamphetamine, two years at IDOC for driving as a habitual traffic violator and 60 days at the Kosciusko County Jail for operating a vehicle while intoxicated. The first and third charges were ordered to be served concurrently in this case but consecutive to the sentence for the second charge. 

Minnick was given a combined total of 178 days of jail time credit in the two cases and ordered to pay a drug interdiction fee. He was ordered to pay restitution to the Warsaw Police Department and to forfeit his firearm to law enforcement.