Thomas Sheley

PIERCETON — A Pierceton man was sentenced in Kosciusko Circuit Court Monday, Feb. 3, for battering a woman on two separate occasions. 

Thomas Henry Sheley, 44, 597 S. Old SR 13, No. 24, Pierceton, pleaded guilty to domestic battery, a class A misdemeanor. 

On April 9, 2018, an officer with the Pierceton Police Department responded to a call from Midwest Roll Forming. The safety director of Midwest Roll Forming introduced the officer to an employee who was a victim of domestic battery.

The officer spoke with the woman, who advised that on March 30, 2018, she was at Sheley’s residence. Sheley began arguing with the victim while two children were present. The victim said that at one point, Sheley took her cell phone, hit her on the left side of her face, threw her down on the floor and started choking her. The victim was able to break free and moved herself and the children to Deluxe Inn in Warsaw.

According to the victim, Sheley showed up unannounced at the Deluxe Inn on April 9, 2018. The victim said Sheley was angry with her and shoved her up against the sink and placed his hands around her throat. She was able to escape, and a friend took her to Midwest Roll Forming.

Employees at Midwest Roll Forming checked the surveillance video and found that Sheley had been at the workplace walking around outside the building on April 9, 2018.

When Sheley was arrested and searched, the officer found a powder substance identified as heroin in Sheley’s pocket.

In court Monday, Judge Michael Reed said he had received a petition from the coordinator at the Whitley County Veterans Treatment Court stating that Sheley had successfully completed the Veterans Court Program in Whitley County. 

“I appreciate you giving me the chance to go to veterans treatment court,” Sheley said to Reed. “I really appreciate that, Sir.”

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Matt Buehler commended Sheley for his successful completion of the program.

Reed sentenced Sheley to one year at the Kosciusko County Jail but suspended the sentence, ordering that it be served on formal probation.

Because both parties requested that the protective order be dropped, Reed ordered that the no-contact order be dissolved. Sheley was ordered to comply with all terms and conditions of probation.