Valentine Released On OR, Enters Guilty Pleas
WARSAW — Todd Valentine, 40, 306 E. Lynwood Drive, Syracuse, has been released from jail on his own recognizance, with conditions, after entering pleas of guilty to five of 13 charges in Kosciusko Superior Court 1. Valentine appeared before Judge David Cates Tuesday morning, May 30, to enter a change of plea on six pending cases. Two of the cases were pending in Kosciusko Superior Court 2.
Valentine will appear back in court at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, June 22, for ruling on the plea agreement and sentencing, if the agreement is accepted.
Valentine was charged Sept. 22, 2016, with criminal mischief, a class A misdemeanor and Nov. 3, 2016, with disorderly conduct, a class B misdemeanor. Both of these charges were filed in Superior Court 2.
On July 22, 2016, Valentine was charged with battery against a public safety official, a level 6 felony; resisting law enforcement and operating a vehicle with an ACE of .15 or more, both class A misdemeanors. On Sept. 13, 2016, he was charged with intimidation and attempt to commit battery by means of a deadly weapon, both level 5 felonies. However the intimidation charge was amended to a level 6 felony during the plea hearing.
Valentine was charged Nov. 22, 2016, with strangulation and domestic battery, both level 6 felonies; and Jan. 10, he was charged with stalking, a level 5 felony; domestic battery, a level 6 felony; domestic battery and invasion of privacy, both class A misdemeanors. These charges were filed in Superior Court 1.
While Valentine was released on bond on the charges, he failed to appear for an initial hearing Jan. 10. Upon his arrest, he was held on bond and had remained incarcerated until the hearing. The order to the condition of his release is Valentine be released into the custody of Serenity House and remain at Serenity House complying completely and strictly with the rules of the residential program until further ordered by the court. Should Valentine fail to comply, he will be returned to the county jail and held on the original $25,000 surety bond.
Cates took the plea agreement under advisement following Tuesday’s hearing. The agreement was presented by Valentine’s attorney, John D. Barrett.
The plea agreement states Valentine would plead guilty to battery, a level 6 felony; resisting law enforcement, and operating while intoxicated both class A misdemeanors; the amended charge of intimidation, as a level 6 felony; domestic battery, a level 6 felony and invasion of privacy, a class A misdemeanor. All other charges would be dismissed.
The agreement set the sentencing parameters as:
- One year each on the charge of battery and resisting law enforcement to be served concurrently and one year probation for operating while intoxicated to be served consecutive to those two charges and his driver’s license be suspended for one year to be served consecutive to administrative refusal suspension. Restitution of $380 for chemical testing fees and state alcohol countermeasure fees were agreed.
- The sentencing for intimidation, the sentencing will be 1 1/2 years with one year suspended and six months served on Kosciusko County Community Corrections at Serenity House. A no-contact order would be entered prohibiting Valentine from contacting the victims by any means other than through an attorney.
- On the domestic battery charge, the sentencing would be two years suspended to be served on formal probation, and one year probation on the charge of invasion of privacy, both to be served concurrent.
An additional condition in the sentencing is Valentine is to consume no alcohol, complete anger management counseling and substance abuse counseling and pay restitution in the criminal mischief charge.
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