Cody Allen Hale

WARSAW — A Warsaw man sentenced in Kosciusko Circuit Court Monday, Jan. 27, on a dealing charge received a three-year sentence, with two years of that time suspended.

Cody Allen Hale, 31, 425 Wexford Place, Warsaw, pleaded guilty to dealing in a narcotic drug, a level 5 felony.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, in May 2019, Warsaw Police conducted a controlled purchase of 1 gram of heroin from Hale.

The purchase was captured on digital surveillance.

In court Monday, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Matt Buehler commended Hale for his involvement in the Kosciusko County Chemical Addiction Program (JCAP).

“It’s not an easy thing to do — to seek treatment,” Buehler said. “I’m sure everyone appreciates your hard work.”

Hale’s attorney, Travis Neff, said that Hale is expected to graduate from the JCAP program Feb. 7.

When Hale was given an opportunity to speak, he said, “I thank Mr. Buehler for his words. That means a lot to me.”

Judge Michael Reed cautioned that this is just the beginning of Hale’s addiction recovery process.

“This is the first step in a long road,” Reed said.

Reed sentenced Hale to three years in Indiana State prison but suspended the IDOC placement, instead ordering Hale to serve one year at the Kosciusko County Jail with the remaining two years of the sentence suspended and served on formal probation. The sentence was ordered to be served consecutively to any sentence imposed in any other case.

Hale was ordered to attend two self-help meetings per week as part of the terms of probation. He was given 174 days of jail time credit.

JCAP Coordinator Courtney Jenkins said Hale has been an “exceptional” participant in the program. According to Jenkins, Hale has taken the program seriously from the beginning, working hard in all his classes and going out of his way to help other participants in the program.

Hale is currently taking high school equivalency tutoring classes and will take his HSE test next week.

“Getting his diploma has been a priority for Cody and we are proud of his dedication and hard work in achieving this goal,” Jenkins said.