Staff Report

WARSAW — A Warsaw man was sentenced to 14 years in prison Wednesday, July 28, in Kosciusko County Circuit Court. 

Daniel C. Holbrook

Pursuant to a plea agreement, Daniel Craig Holbrook, 26, 920 Anchorage Road 11, Warsaw, pleaded guilty to five charges involving four separate cases. 

The charges included dealing methamphetamine, a level 2 felony; dealing methamphetamine, a level 4 felony; two counts of resisting law enforcement, both level 6 felonies; and failure to appear, a level 6 felony.

Additional charges were dismissed in accordance to the terms of the plea agreement. A fifth case was also dismissed.

In 2019, Holbrook was arrested on drug-related charges stemming from multiple incidents over a period of time.

According to police, Holbrook was seen selling methamphetamine by members of the Kosciusko County’s NET43 Drug Task Force in December 2018.

In February 2019, police observed a vehicle operating in Warsaw with only one headlight. The officer who made the traffic stop identified Holbrook as the driver and reported that Holbrook said he did not have a license. Central Dispatch reportedly told the officer Holbrook had never held a valid license and reported that Holbrook had an arrest warrant. While taking Holbrook into custody, police then reported finding marijuana, a smoking device, methamphetamine and Hydrocodone in the vehicle.

Holbrook was released and scheduled for a March 14 hearing. He was placed on the county’s most-wanted list in July and August before being booked Aug. 22 on the outstanding charges. Charges of felony failure to appear and resisting law enforcement were added at that time.

On Sept. 25, 2020, the NET43 Drug Task Force purchased 48.2 grams of meth from Holbrook. NET43 then purchased 8.6 grams of meth from Holbrook on Sept. 30, 2020, and 82 grams of meth from Holbrook a week later.

All purchases involved documented task force money and were captured on digital surveillance.

Holbrook also has a prior conviction from 2016 for dealing methamphetamine.

In court Wednesday, Holbrook was represented by two attorneys: Travis Neff and John Barrett.

Neff said Holbrook was quick to own responsibility for his actions. 

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Matt Buehler described Holbrook as “a young man who I think is very capable of doing the right thing” and said he hopes Holbrook does so once his sentence is complete.

When Judge Michael Reed asked if Holbrook had anything to say, Holbrook apologized for his actions, adding, “That’s just how I was brought up, unfortunately.”

“You can’t do anything to change what’s been done,” Reed said. “But you can change what happens going forward…and I hope you do.”

In the first case, Reed sentenced Holbrook to 10 years at the Indiana Dept. of Corrections for the Level 2 felony charge of dealing methamphetamine and one year for resisting arrest. The sentences were ordered to be served concurrently, meaning at the same time, but consecutive to sentences imposed in the other cases. Holbrook was given 170 days of jail time credit in that case and ordered to pay restitution to the NET43 Drug Task Force.

In the second case, Holbrook was sentenced to one year in prison for resisting law enforcement, with the sentence suspended and ordered to be served on formal probation.

In the third case, Reed sentenced Holbrook to one year at IDOC for failure to appear. This sentence was also suspended and ordered to be served on probation.

Lastly, in the fourth case, Holbrook was sentenced to six years in prison for dealing methamphetamine. Reed ordered Holbrook to serve four years of the sentence, with the last two years to be suspended and served on probation. Holbrook was given 303 days of jail time credit in this case. 

Reed recommended that Holbrook participate in the Recovery While Incarcerated program and said a sentence modification may be considered at some point if Holbrook remains drug-free and conduct-clear while incarcerated.