By Elizabeth Hershberger
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — A man from Marion was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections, with the entirety of the sentence suspended to probation.

Devan Lamont Bounds

Devan Lamont Bounds, 32, 1016 N. Washington St., Marion, was charged with battery with bodily injury to a public safety officer, a level 5 felony; resisting law enforcement where the defendant causes bodily injury, a level 6 felony; possession of marijuana, a class B misdemeanor; and operating a vehicle with alcohol concentration of at least .08 but less than .15, a class C misdemeanor.

Bounds pled guilty to resisting law enforcement and all remaining charges in the case were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

Judge Torrey Bauer sentenced Bounds to 2 1/2 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections. The sentence was suspended to probation at the sentencing hearing Wednesday, June 25 in Kosciusko Superior Court Two.

Bounds must continue to attend AA meetings on a weekly basis. He must also undergo anger management assessment and treatment. Bounds is not to consume alcohol for the duration of his probation.

Defense Attorney Aaron Stoll called two witness to the stand, Ashlynne Wilson and Regina Flowers.

Ashlynne Wilson is Bounds’ romantic partner of five years. They have a home together and two children in the household, with another on the way. Wilson said Bounds “did a total turn around” and told the court that he had gone for treatment at a rehabilitation program voluntarily.

Regina Flowers is Bounds’ mother. “I’ve seen a tremendous turn around in that young man … his rehab has really helped him so much,” she said tearfully.

Stoll told the court that the major cause of Bounds’ behavior in the case was substance abuse.

“He’s taking responsibility and trying to build a life going forward,” said Stoll.

Deputy Prosecutor Andrew Grossnickle noted the state was conflicted about the choices before the court in regards to sentencing, with no options for community corrections or work release as part of the plea agreement.

Grossnickle said, “Mr. Bounds does appear to have taken considerable steps toward rehabilitation.”

Bounds told the court that he carries a lot of anger from things that happened when he was younger. He acknowledged that his drug use does not excuse his behavior.

“I’m very sorry about the way I talked to those officers … it starts with Devan. Recovery has changed my life,” said Bounds.

Bauer told Bounds that everyone has struggles. “While it’s true you have things you fight against, it’s not really an excuse,” said Bauer.

Bauer reminded Bounds that his choices have created consequences. Bauer also said, “I’m going out on a limb for you … it’s a very short limb.”

Bauer concluded, “I’m giving you the opportunity to prove this isn’t who you really are.”

The Case

According to court documents, an officer with the Syracuse Police Department responded to a dispatch call about a male asleep in the Syracuse McDonald’s drive-thru with his vehicle in gear on June 9, 2024.

The officer located the vehicle, a gray Kia, and observed the brake lights were activated. The officer opened the door to check on the driver, later identified as Bounds, and immediately detected the smell of alcohol.

After waking Bounds, the officer spoke with him and Bounds said he drank three or four beers while he was at a local bar, with the last drink being approximately an hour earlier. The officer observed that Bounds exhibited physical signs of intoxication. Bounds refused to participate in field sobriety tests because he said he would fail. He also refused to take a certified chemical test.

The 911 caller told the officer that Bounds ordered food from the drive-thru, pulled up to the window to pay and then pulled up to the pick-up window. The caller knocked on Bounds’ window several times and received no response.

The officer transported Bounds to Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital. He heard banging in the back of the police vehicle and opened the door to speak with Bounds.

Bounds stuck his foot out while the officer was attempting to close the door and Bounds yelled an obscenity at the officer. A Kosciusko county deputy arrived to assist and Bounds kicked the deputy in the arm, causing redness and abrasions.

Bounds was transported to the Kosciusko County Jail, where staff found a smoking device containing marijuana on Bounds’ person.

Bounds tested .13% BAC on a certified chemical test.