By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

Shawn Prater

WARSAW — A Pierceton man will serve three years in prison after using methamphetamine while on parole.

Shawn Prater, 43, 3119 E. Wooster Road, Pierceton, was charged with possession of methamphetamine, a level 5 felony. An additional methamphetamine possession charge was dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

Prater was sentenced in Kosciusko Circuit Court on Wednesday, July 20.

Prater was convicted of dealing methamphetamine in January 2010 in Huntington County. He served that sentence at the Indiana Department of Correction. Prater was then placed on parole and required to wear a GPS ankle bracelet.

On Feb. 24, 2021, an Indiana Correctional Police officer was informed by a parole agent that Prater would not stop using methamphetamine. The next day, the correctional officer was notified that a parole warrant had been issued for Prater’s arrest.

According to court documents, on Feb. 25, 2021, the correctional officer and a Pierceton Police officer found Prater at a gas station. He was taken into custody at that time. While on the way to the Kosciusko County Jail, Prater told the correctional officer he had methamphetamine concealed in his sock, under his GPS ankle bracelet.

Officers found 1.1 grams of methamphetamine in Prater’s sock.

During court proceedings, Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Brad Voelz said there were certain aspects of Prater’s criminal history that “make him a danger to the community.”

“This is an example of a man’s past coming back to bite him in a big way,” said Defense Attorney Austin Rovenstine.

Rovenstine told Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Michael Reed that the last time he was in prison, Prater attempted to get involved in the Recovery While Incarcerated program. However, Prater was informed he was ineligible for RWI.

For possession of methamphetamine, Judge Reed sentenced Prater to three years in the Indiana Department of Correction. This case will be served consecutively to the methamphetamine dealing case from Huntington County. Judge Reed also recommended Prater for participation in the RWI program.