Zarse To Serve 15 Years In Prison For Three Controlled Drug Buys
By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews
Austin Nathaniel Zarse
WARSAW — A Leesburg man will serve 15 years in prison after three controlled drug buys with local law enforcement.
Austin Nathaniel Zarse, 27, 576 W. 675N, Leesburg, was charged with two counts of dealing methamphetamine, both level 2 felonies; unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, a level 4 felony; and resisting law enforcement, a level 6 felony. Four additional criminal charges were all dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
Zarse was sentenced in Kosciusko Circuit Court on Thursday, Feb. 23.
For each count of dealing methamphetamine, Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Michael Reed sentenced Zarse to 17 1/2 years in the Indiana Department of Correction. Each dealing count will be served concurrently, or at the same time. Zarse also received a two-year DoC sentence for unlawful possession of a firearm and six months in DoC for resisting law enforcement. The firearm and resisting charges will be served consecutively to the dealing charges.
The last five years of Zarse’s 20-year sentence was suspended on probation. He was recommended for DoC’s Recovery While Incarcerated program and has 283 days of jail time credit.
A firearm seized in the case will be disposed of by the NET43 Drug Task Force. Zarse must also pay $2,625 in restitution to NET43 for drug buy money.
Between March and May 2022, NET43 purchased a total of 176 grams of meth from Zarse. Officers also recovered a 9mm handgun. On May 16, 2022, when law enforcement officers approached Zarse, he fled from officers and drove into a field, where he got stuck in a ditch.
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