Brian Saunders Sentenced After Veteran Treatment Participation
By Elizabeth Hershberger
InkFreeNews
WARSAW — A man who successfully participated in the Whitley County Veterans Treatment Court was sentenced Thursday, June 12, in Kosciusko Superior Court One.

Brian Mitchell Saunders
Brian Saunders, 35, 396 N. 100E, Warsaw, had entered a plea agreement pleading guilty to criminal confinement, a level 5 felony; domestic battery committed in the presence of a child less than 16 years old, a level 6 felony; strangulation, a level 6 felony; and battery resulting in bodily injury, a misdemeanor.
The court made an agreement to have Saunders participate in the Whitley County Veterans Treatment Court April 18, 2024. A report made to the court stated Saunders was successfully discharged from the treatment program. Because of this two of the counts were dismissed.
Kosciusko Superior Court One Judge Karin McGrath sentenced Saunders to one year each in the county jail on the charges of domestic battery committed in the presence of a child less than 16 years old and battery resulting in bodily injury. Both sentences were suspended to be served on probation consecutively.
The charges of criminal confinement and strangulation were dismissed.
Deputy Prosecutor Joseph Sobek said, “It sounds like he held himself accountable for his actions.” Sobek congratulated Saunders for completing the program and hoped he has learned better tools and coping strategies.
Saunders’ attorney Joseph Bauer said that at the time of the incident, “Mr. Saunders was in a bad place, but he has taken help and responsibility.” Bauer asked the court to consider probation.
Saunders declined to make a statement to the court.
McGrath commended Saunders on his participation in the treatment program and said, “I hope that there were really valuable tools that you learned during that process.” She encouraged him to live up to his abilities.
Saunders will pay court costs of $189 and the domestic violence fee of $50. The victim did not request restitution.
The no contact order between the victim and Saunders will continue to stay in place for the duration of Saunders’ sentence. He is now disqualified from owning firearms due to the domestic battery charge.
The Case
According to court documents, a deputy from Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office responded to a domestic complaint made to Kosciusko dispatch Sept. 19, 2023. The victim spoke with the deputy and described a fight with Saunders, which happened with children present.
The victim said Saunders was intoxicated and pinned the victim against a door, wrapping his hands around their neck. When the victim tried to exit the residence, Saunders raised a bar stool between the victim and the door. The victim was afraid Saunders would hit them with the bar stool.
Saunders knocked the victim to the floor and punched and choked the victim. Saunders struggled with the victim and shoved one of the children. The victim struggled with Saunders and shoved him, causing a laceration to his head. The deputy observed the victim had marks on their neck and head from the altercation and the victim’s mouth area hurt.
At the time, Saunders said he was the victim and “(the victim) beats him all the time.” He stated the victim struck him with a bat. Saunders tested 0.24% BrAC on a portable breath test.