Leesburg Woman Receives Six-Year Local Sentence For Drug Possession
By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews
Aliyaha Rae Whitaker
WARSAW — A Leesburg woman will serve a six-year sentence locally for drug possession.
Aliyaha Rae Whitaker, 28, 4682 N. 475E, Leesburg, was charged with possession of methamphetamine, a level 4 felony. Five additional criminal charges were all dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
Whitaker was sentenced in Kosciusko Circuit Court on Monday, March 4.
For meth possession, Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Michael Reed sentenced Whitaker to six years in the Kosciusko County Jail, with three years executed and three years suspended on formal probation. Reed showed no objection to Whitaker serving the executed portion through Kosciusko County Work Release.
She has 239 days of jail time credit, plus good time credit as calculated. After Whitaker serves two years of her executed sentence, Reed said he would consider a sentence modification in order for Whitaker to reside in a residential recovery program.
At sentencing, Defense Attorney Jay Rigdon said Whitaker was approved for work release and accepted to The Rose Home. He said a local sentence would be Whitaker’s best chance at being successful.
Whitaker said she didn’t think she was worthy of being sober but had time to clear her head during her incarceration.
“I want to do better for myself and others,” said Whitaker.
On July 10, 2023, an Indiana State Police trooper was near Warsaw when he noticed a vehicle unable to stay in its lane of travel. The trooper pulled the vehicle over, identifying Whitaker as a passenger. Upon searching the vehicle, the trooper found 24 grams of meth.
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