Staff Report

WARSAW — A Warsaw man was sentenced in Kosciusko Superior Court 1 Monday, Nov. 2, on two charges related to a domestic altercation in May. 

Randal Kephart

Randal Lee Kephart, 31, 523 W. Pike St., Warsaw, pleaded guilty to criminal confinement, a level 6 felony; and domestic battery, a class A misdemeanor.

According to information in the affidavit of probable cause, on May 27, Warsaw Police officers were dispatched to Kosciusko Community Hospital in reference to a man and woman who came in for injuries related to a domestic battery. 

The man was identified as Kephart.

Upon arrival, a WPD officer met with Kephart and the woman. Kephart had a large laceration on the back of his head, and the woman had visible injuries.

The woman reported that she and Kephart got into a verbal argument. The woman decided to leave the residence, but as she was attempting to leave, Kephart prevented her from leaving and became physical with her. 

The woman said she was able to get away from Kephart and get to a handgun.

Kephart again physically restrained the woman, who said she was able to strike him in the head with the handgun. At that point, the woman said Kephart took her to the ground and put his hands around her throat, making it difficult for her to breathe.

The woman said she was able to get free and attempted to escape, but Kephart again prevented her from leaving the residence. The woman was eventually able to get free and got into her vehicle. According to the affidavit of probable cause, Kephart then got into the passenger side of the vehicle. The woman saw that Kephart was bleeding from being struck in the head with the firearm. 

The woman drove herself and Kephart to KCH where hospital staff contacted law enforcement. 

Kephart spoke at his sentencing.

“I know I screwed up. I’m done drinking,” Kephart told Judge David Cates. “I haven’t been drinking. I’m going good now. My family needs me. I’m working hard. I work every day. My family needs me, they depend on me.”

Judge Cates referenced Kephart’s criminal history and violation of a no contact order.

“You certainly weren’t thinking about your family when you were committing these acts,” Cates said.

Cates sentenced Kephart to 18 months in the Kosciusko County Jail for the criminal confinement charge, suspending 12 months of the sentence. 

For the domestic battery charge, Kephart was sentenced to 12 months in jail, all suspended. The sentences were ordered to be served concurrently, with the suspended portion of the sentences ordered to be served on formal probation. 

Kephart was given 78 days of jail time credit and ordered to have no contact with the victim. He is restricted from owning a firearm for life due to the nature of the crimes.

Cates said he had no objection to the executed portion of the sentence being served through community corrections if Kephart qualifies. 

After the sentence was issued and proceedings were over, Kephart continued speaking, expressing concern about his job and his family.

“You weren’t thinking about your job. You weren’t thinking about your family,” Cates snapped, ordering security to remove Kephart from the courtroom.