By Lasca Randels
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — A Syracuse man received a seven-year prison sentence in Kosciusko Circuit Court Monday, Aug. 3. 

Warren Davies

Warren James Davies, 38, 9928 N. Happiness Drive, Syracuse, pleaded guilty to dealing methamphetamine, a level 4 felony; and theft, a level 6 felony. 

On July 30, 2019, an officer with the NET43 Drug Task Force made a controlled purchase of 6.5 grams of methamphetamine from Davies.

On September 5, 2019, a Syracuse police officer was dispatched to Ace Hardware in Syracuse in reference to a theft.

The store manager reported that a male entered the store and concealed a stapler inside his pants. The man then made a purchase with cash but did not pay for the stapler. He then left the store. 

Security video footage provided by Ace Hardware showed the suspect concealing the stapler and leaving on a yellow moped.

An officer spotted a man on a moped matching that description the following day in the area of CR 900N and CR 300E. The officer conducted a traffic stop of the moped. Just before the moped stopped, the driver attempted to throw a cigarette pack from his left pocket. 

The driver was dressed in the same clothing he had been wearing during the Ace Hardware theft the previous day.

The license plate on the moped was expired. Davies refused to talk with police about the Ace Hardware incident. The cigarette pack in Davies’ pocket contained two baggies meth and cocaine inside. There were also 10 blue pills in the cigarette pack that were identified as Clonazepam, a schedule IV controlled substance. 

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Matt Buehler asked Judge Michael Reed to consider Davies’ substantial criminal history when fashioning the sentence.

“I’m tired of fighting my addiction,” Davies told Reed. He requested placement in a drug treatment facility rather than prison. 

Reed sentenced Davies to six years at the Indiana Department of Corrections for the charge of dealing methamphetamine. He was ordered to pay restitution to NET43. 

He was ordered to serve one year at IDOC for the theft charge. The sentences were ordered to be served consecutively, meaning one after the other. Davies was ordered to pay restitution to Ace Hardware of Syracuse. Pursuant to the plea agreement, other charges were dismissed.

Reed recommended that Davies participate in the Recovery While Incarcerated program. If Davies completes the program successfully, does not use drugs while in prison and remains conduct-clear, Reed said he would consider a sentence modification at a later date.