Staff Report

WARSAW — An Arizona man and Fort Wayne woman are facing multiple charges after they were allegedly caught with a stolen handgun and marijuana in Kosciusko County.

Robert M. Foster Jr., 23, 21968 W. Gardenia Drive, Buckeye, Ariz., is facing charges of theft, a level 6 felony; carrying a handgun without a license, a class A misdemeanor; possession of marijuana, a class B misdemeanor; and carrying a handgun without a license, a level 5 felony.

Jania A. Troutner

Robert M. Foster Jr.

Jania A. Troutner, 20, 4122 Wayne Terrace, Fort Wayne, is facing charges of assisting a criminal, a level 6 felony; and possession of marijuana and false informing, both class B misdemeanors.

According to a probable cause affidavit, on Jan. 15, a Warsaw police officer saw a gray Ford Fusion speeding on Lake City Highway.

The officer did a traffic stop. The driver was Foster, and Troutner was his passenger.

The officer recognized the scent of marijuana while he was talking with them. The two people left the vehicle, and Foster told the officer there was marijuana in the vehicle.

Troutner said there was a gun in the vehicle that was hers. The officer found she had a valid handgun permit.

Officers found the gun, a handgun, which they discovered was reported stolen to the Allen County Indiana Drug Task Force. It was within reach of both Foster and Troutner. They also found a marijuana joint under the passenger’s seat and one on the driver’s side floorboard.

They found a cigar pouch containing marijuana in the front passenger door, and in baggies in a purse in the rear seat. Officers also found $9,000 in cash under the passenger seat.

Troutner said her uncle gave her the firearm. Foster said when being interviewed that the gun was not hers. He said at first he didn’t know where the gun came from, then said he bought it. He then said he found it and didn’t pay for it.

He said he didn’t have a license for the gun and wasn’t legally allowed to have a gun. He said he told Troutner to keep the cash in her purse and didn’t know why she put the money under the seat while the original officer was conducting the traffic stop.

He was asked if he had marijuana on him and said yes. Foster pulled a bag containing marijuana from his underwear.

Foster had previously been convicted of theft, a level 6 felony, on May 24, 2016, in Maricopa County, Arizona.

He was booked at the Kosciusko County Jail on Jan. 15 on a $5,250 surety and cash bond.

Troutner was booked at the jail on Jan. 15 on a $5,250 surety and cash bond.