By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

Christopher Wayne Stern

WARSAW — A recent Jail Chemical Addiction Program (JCAP) graduate was sentenced in two criminal cases.

In the first case, Christopher Wayne Stern, 43, Warsaw, was charged with possession of a narcotic drug, a level 5 felony. He was also charged with criminal confinement resulting in bodily injury, a level 5 felony; and domestic battery, a class A misdemeanor; in a second case. Three additional criminal charges and a methamphetamine possession case were all dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

Stern was sentenced in both Kosciusko Circuit Court and Kosciusko Superior Court One on Monday, Jan. 24.

On June 14, 2020, an officer was advised of a stolen vehicle. The next day, officers found the stolen vehicle and were arresting the driver when Stern, a passenger in the stolen vehicle, began video recording the arrest. While searching Stern’s backpack, officers found a digital scale and a bag that tested positive for heroin.

On May 25, 2021, a Warsaw Police officer responded to a report of a man chasing a woman in a parking lot. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with a woman who said she was meeting with Stern to give him his personal belongings.

According to court documents, the woman said Stern opened her vehicle’s driver’s side door, pulled her out and attempted to place a zip tie around her wrist. As a result of Stern attempting to put a zip tie on her wrist, she sustained a laceration to the top of her right wrist.

A witness at the scene said they saw Stern reach into a vehicle, trying to grab a woman while she yelled for help.

During court proceedings, judges and prosecutors alike commended Stern for graduating from the JCAP program on Jan. 7.

Defense Attorney Austin Rovenstine, who represented Stern in both cases, said Stern had been accepted into the county’s work release program. He noted that criminal confinement cases were typically not accepted by the program but graduating from JCAP assisted in his acceptance.

For narcotic drug possession, Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Michael Reed sentenced Stern to two years in the Kosciusko County Jail. He has 213 days of jail time credit in the case. Judge Reed also showed no objection to Stern serving the sentence through work release. The case will be served consecutively to a methamphetamine possession case from Marshall County.

“Recovery is not an event, it’s a process,” said Judge Reed.

After sentencing in Kosciusko Circuit Court, Stern was sentenced by Kosciusko Superior Court One Judge Karin McGrath in the criminal confinement case.

Judge McGrath said she received a letter about Stern from JCAP Coordinator Courtney Jenkins. In her letter, Jenkins said Stern has shown a tremendous amount of growth and has made every effort to apply what he’s learned in the JCAP program.

“You have to make these good decisions every day,” said Judge McGrath. “Start to build a different, better life. If you stay the path, it’s worth it.”

For criminal confinement resulting in bodily injury, Judge McGrath sentenced Stern to four years in the Kosciusko County Jail. Stern also received a one-year jail sentence for domestic battery. Both counts will be served concurrently, or at the same time. Two years of the sentence will be executed and the final two years were suspended on probation.

The criminal confinement case will also be served consecutively to the Circuit Court case and the Marshall County methamphetamine possession case. Judge McGrath also showed no objection to Stern participating in the county’s work release program. A no-contact order between Stern and the woman he injured also remains in effect.

In total, for both cases, Stern received a six-year sentence, with four years executed and two years on probation.