Jennifer Hollar

KOSCIUSKO — A Warsaw woman was sentenced in Kosciusko Superior Court Thursday, Sept. 13, on charges related to a shooting.

Jennifer Lynn Hollar, 35, 331 N. Park Ave., Warsaw, pleaded guilty to criminal recklessness armed with a deadly weapon, a level 6 felony.

Around 1 a.m. on Oct. 16, 2017, an officer with the Warsaw Police Department responded to a domestic battery with a gunshot wound. According to the affidavit of probable cause, when the officer arrived, he found two female subjects standing next to a male who was lying on the floor with a gunshot wound to his abdomen. A small, black semi-automatic handgun was on the kitchen table and an empty shell casing was on the floor.

A search warrant for the residence was obtained, and the females were removed from the residence. When officers mentioned suspect information, Hollar reportedly stated, “That would be me.”

The other female advised she received a phone call from Hollar asking her to come to the residence. When she arrived, Hollar allegedly told her she had shot the male victim. Hollar and the male victim had been living together at the residence for about one year.

Officers then spoke with the victim who advised Hollar had come home extremely agitated and began punching him. According to the victim, Hollar went into the bedroom and returned to where the victim was standing. She walked within two feet of him and the victim heard a pop when Hollar shot him in the abdomen.

The victim was transported to a Fort Wayne hospital with a bullet hole in his right side abdomen. The bullet had passed through the abdomen and lodged in the area of the spine.

Hollar’s father and brother both spoke in her defense during the proceedings. Numerous family members appeared in court in support of Hollar.

“The question I ask myself is ‘why?’” said Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Brad Voelz at today’s sentencing. “There is no history that indicates this. Nothing in Jenny’s history indicates that she would end up in this chair facing you and wondering how the next few years of her life are going to proceed.”

“When we looked into it … we dug pretty deep and were given a lot of information and it started to become clear to me,” said Voelz. “It became clear enough that we are confident that the charge she is pleading guilty to is the crime that she committed.”

“In speaking with the victim several times, at the time the offer was made he was fully on board,” Voelz stated. “As a matter of fact it was made at his request – perhaps indicative or symbolic of Ms. Hollar and [the victim’s] relationship over time that deteriorated to some point.”

“I think in Jenny’s heart of hearts she believed she was defending herself,” said Hollar’s attorney, Anthony Churchward. “I think the evidence supplied by Mr. Voelz through the course of discovery showed the nature of their relationship and their history.”

Churchward asked Judge David Cates to consider Hollar’s lack of criminal history, her strong work ethic and family support.

“What I’ve heard is that you are and can continue to be beneficial to society,” said Cates. “It’s pretty obvious that you have community and family support – but no more crimes. None means none.”

Cates found Hollar guilty of criminal recklessness armed with a deadly weapon, a level 6 felony, and sentenced her to two years in the Kosciusko County Jail, with one and a half years to be suspended and served on formal probation. Cates said he would allow Hollar to serve the executed portion of the sentence through Michiana Community Corrections, provided she is qualified and remains qualified. She was given one day of jail time credit.

Hollar was ordered to comply with all rules of probation. She was ordered to the Bowen Center or McArthur Center for an assessment and follow-up. Cates further ordered Hollar to pay restitution to the victim in the amount of $2,800. In regards to a subrogation claim, Cates ordered Hollar to pay $24,110.31.