By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

Terry Jean Howard

WARSAW — A Milford man will serve the majority of a five-year sentence through probation and a residential treatment program after illegally hunting deer and leading police officers in a vehicle pursuit.

Terry Jean Howard, 44, 1266 W. CR 1250N, Milford, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, a level 4 felony; resisting law enforcement and perjury, both level 6 felonies; illegal possession of a white-tailed deer, a class B misdemeanor; jacklighting for deer, a class C misdemeanor; possession of methamphetamine, a level 5 felony; and invasion of privacy, a class A misdemeanor. Two additional criminal charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

Howard was sentenced in Kosciusko Circuit Court on Monday, May 10.

In November 2018, Indiana Department of Natural Resources officers received information that Howard was illegally shooting deer. At 12:45 a.m. Nov. 29, 2018, officers saw Howard slowly drive down country roads, frequently turning around and changing directions. The officers’ past training and experience indicated the driver was attempting to shoot deer.

Howard returned to his home four hours later. Officers noticed Howard had a deer with antler tines in his truck bed. The officers checked an area in Noble County where they knew Howard had stopped during the night. According to court documents, officers found tire tracks where a vehicle had driven into a field, as well as wet blood in the field and on top of the tire tracks.

Officers checked a residence where Howard had stopped during the evening and noticed a deer hanging from a pole in plain view.

On Nov. 20, 2018, Howard reported to the online Indiana check-in game registry, under the penalties of perjury, that he had killed an antlered deer in Noble County at 9:05 a.m. Nov. 19, 2018. Officers knew the information was false because Howard was in his home during that timeframe.

On Dec. 29, 2018, officers responded to a domestic disturbance at Howard’s residence. A woman at the home said Howard had a shed on the property that contained a large assortment of items.

While searching the shed, officers found two large deer skulls with antlers. They believed the deer had been recently killed.

According to court documents, the woman said Howard usually hunted between 2 and 5 a.m. and that she believed he had poached four or five deer in 2018 and 13 deer in 2017. She also said Howard had a storage unit where she believed there were deer antlers.

Inside Howard’s storage unit, officers found 16 sets of antlers, a rifle and one box of deer slug ammunition.

On Jan. 2, 2019, officers received a complaint of Howard breaking into the woman’s residence. By this time, a no-contact order had been issued between Howard and the woman. Officers found Howard driving on SR 15 and attempted to pull him over; however, Howard failed to stop his vehicle.

Howard drove his vehicle across a field and officers were able to stop him at CR 1050N and Orn Road. A K9 unit at the scene found a shotgun with a scope that had been thrown from Howard’s vehicle.

Howard admitted to officers that he had used his vehicle’s spotlights to shoot two does and one buck.

During court proceedings, Brian Jackson, a Serenity House manager, was called for testimony by Defense Attorney David Kolbe.

Jackson praised Howard’s progress and achievements, saying that he “has exceeded my expectations.”

“He has done exceptionally well,” said Jackson. “He’s my go-to guy with helping others and has been a huge asset while I’ve had to help train a new house manager. I don’t think I’ve seen anyone achieve the things that Terry has.”

Jackson said Howard has resided with Serenity House for 20 months and that he’d have no objection to Howard living there for a three-year term.

“Terry has given this court a lot of reasons to really think on this sentence and given us hope for his future,” said Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Matt Buehler, acknowledging Howard’s accomplishments. “But that doesn’t diminish the seriousness of these crimes.”

Kolbe asked the court to consider suspending Howard’s sentence so that he can continue treatment through Serenity House.

“He also wants to be part of the program after his residency,” said Kolbe.

Howard praised Serenity House’s program and said he’s in a much better place now because of it.

For unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon and possession of methamphetamine, Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Michael Reed sentenced Howard to three years in the Indiana Department of Corrections on each count. He also sentenced Howard to one year in DoC for resisting law enforcement. All three of the aforementioned counts will be served concurrently, or at the same time.

Howard was also sentenced to one year in the Kosciusko County Jail for perjury, six months in KCJ for illegal possession of a white-tailed deer, and two months in KCJ for jacklighting for deer. All three counts will be served concurrently.

Judge Reed also sentenced Howard to one year in KCJ for invasion of privacy. In total, Howard received a five-year sentence in this case, with 268 days of jail time credit plus good time credit as calculated.

The entirety of Howard’s remaining sentence was suspended on probation. He must continue treatment at Serenity House for an additional six months.

Howard’s driver’s license was also suspended for one year and he must pay a $500 replacement fee to the state for a deer.