By Lasca Randels
InkFreeNews

WARSAW —  A Claypool man was sentenced in Kosciusko Superior Court 1 Monday, Nov. 2, on charges related to a January stabbing incident.

Justin Siede

Justin W. Siede, 29, 9752 South Pheasant Drive, Claypool, pleaded guilty to domestic battery, a level 5 felony; domestic battery, a class A misdemeanor; and interference with the reporting of a crime, a class A misdemeanor. 

According to the affidavit of probable cause, on Jan. 23, police responded to the report of a stabbing at a residence in Kosciusko County.

Police spoke with the victim at the scene. The victim had a puncture wound on her upper left arm. The victim said Siede was looking for a pair of scissors to cut the filter off of his cigarette and tore the victim’s room apart while searching for scissors. 

The victim said Siede refused to share the cigarette with her, so she snapped the cigarette in half, at which time Siede allegedly stabbed the victim in the arm with the scissors.

According to the affidavit, Siede took the phone from the victim as she attempted to call 911. Another woman who was in the residence during the incident said she heard the commotion from her bedroom, and then saw Siede stab the victim in the arm. According to the witness, Siede told the victim she wasn’t going to call anyone, shoved her down to the floor, grabbed the phone and threw it.

The victim was eventually able to retrieve her phone and called 911. Siede left the residence when he heard the victim talking with a dispatcher.

Siede was previously convicted of domestic battery against the same victim in Fulton County on Oct. 2, 2019.

Chief Deputy Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Brad Voelz told Judge David Cates that Siede has a significant criminal history that seems to have escalated in the last couple of years.

Siede requested that he be sentenced to serve his time at a DOC facility so he can earn his GED and further himself academically. 

Cates sentenced Siede to five years in prison for the level 5 felony charge, with two years suspended. Siede was sentenced to one year, suspended, for the class A misdemeanor battery charge, and one year, suspended, for the charge of interference with the reporting of a crime.

The sentences were ordered to be served concurrently, meaning at the same time, but consecutive to any sentence imposed in two other open cases.  The suspended portions of the sentences were ordered to be served on formal probation.

Due to the nature of the crimes, Siede is restricted from owning a firearm for life. He was given 248 days of jail time credit and ordered to have no contact with the victim.