By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

Katryna M. Williams

WARSAW — A South Bend woman will serve an eight-year prison sentence through community corrections and probation after officers discovered 131 grams of methamphetamine in a vehicle.

Katryna M. Williams, 36, South Bend, was charged with possession of methamphetamine, a level 3 felony. Dealing in methamphetamine and narcotic drug possession charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

Williams was sentenced in Kosciusko Circuit Court on Thursday, Oct. 22.

On Sept. 21, 2018, a Warsaw Police officer noticed a vehicle traveling at an unusual slow rate of speed on US 30. The vehicle was traveling 30 mph in a 50 mph zone. While pursuing the vehicle, the officer saw the vehicle’s driver fail to use a turn signal while turning onto SR 15.

According to court documents, the officer saw the driver again fail to to use a turn signal and pulled the vehicle over.

The vehicle’s driver, identified as Julie Lynn Fillmore, Argos, said she and her passenger, Williams, had been visiting flea markets in the area. A K9 unit positively alerted to drugs in Fillmore’s vehicle. While searching the vehicle, officers discovered a large amount of small bags, a large amount of a white crystal substance and several cellphones. Officers also found a small bag containing methamphetamine on Williams’ person. All of the methamphetamine discovered during the traffic stop weighed approximately 131 grams. Williams admitted that all of the methamphetamine in the vehicle was hers.

Defense Attorney Tony Garza said Williams has been seeking substance abuse treatment through Oaklawn and is taking a dual diagnosis class. Several of Williams’ family members and friends were also in attendance to support Williams.

“She’s done a lot to get clean and sober,” said Garza.

“I feel like I’m making so much progress in my life,” said Williams. “We (Williams and her family) feel like jail time would put me backward. I want to keep moving forward. I have a different way of thinking now and didn’t realize how much my behavior has affected others.”

For possession of methamphetamine, Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Michael Reed gave Williams an eight-year Indiana Department of Corrections sentence. Four years of the sentence will be served through either Kosciusko County or St. Joseph County Community Corrections. The last four years of Williams’ sentence will be served on probation.

“The change has been remarkable,” said Judge Reed about Williams.

Fillmore has a pretrial conference regarding this case at 3 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16.