"Yes, sir," "No, sir" and "Guilty" was pretty much the extent of conversation from a suspect arrested in connection with the death of a Milford woman earlier this year.

Lawrence Grant, 29, of Shipshewana, pleaded guilty Tuesday in Kosciusko Circuit Court to all charges pending against him as a result of the January murder of 48-year-old Kathy Vroman of Milford. Grant's pleas were "straight up," meaning that he entered the guilty pleas without the benefit of a plea agreement. Thus, he will be at the mercy of the court when he is sentenced next month. He faces a total of between three and 14 years in prison and fines up to $30,000.

Grant admitted to Judge Rex Reed that he committed auto theft, a Class D felony, when he took vehicles from Rice Ford in Warsaw in December. Most of Reed's questions, prior to asking how Grant pleaded, were answered, "Yes, sir," or "No, sir."

Kosciusko County Prosecutor Chuck Waggoner questioned Grant during the plea hearing regarding the various aspects of the charges against him to fulfill Reed's request that a factual basis be established for the guilty pleas.

"I assure you, I don't care how you plead," Reed said, "but your plea must be based upon a factual basis."

Reed also repeatedly questioned Grant as to his understanding of the proceedings and whether Grant was satisfied with the representation provided by his court-appointed attorney, Antony Garza of Warsaw. Grant assured the court that he was aware of what he was doing and that it was of his own free will.

Grant also admitted that he was guilty of assisting a criminal, a Class C felony, and unlawful movement of a body, a Class D felony. In setting the factual basis for these charges, Grant told the court that he did, "with the intent to hinder the apprehension or punishment of another person, harbor, conceal or otherwise assist" Jason Fisher in concealing evidence of Vroman's murder, including blood stains, when he had good reason to believe that Fisher murdered Vroman. Grant said he saw Vroman's body at the scene in Milford, then helped Fisher remove it from that location to Michigan.

Fisher, 22, of Millersburg, is accused of shooting Vroman in the head at his business, Country Car Co., Milford, then dumping her body in a wooded area near Three Rivers, Mich.

Vroman was reported missing Jan. 15 after she failed to return home from work. Vroman was employed by Fisher. Fisher and his father, Ralph Freddrick "Fred" Fisher, 46, of Goshen, along with George W. Aldrich, 28, of Etna Green, were arrested Jan. 25 in connection with the investigation.

The elder Fisher was originally charged with assisting a criminal and unlawful movement of a body, but the prosecution moved April 30 to dismiss those charges and, instead, try Ralph Fisher on a Class D felony charge of conspiracy to obstruct justice.

Aldrich and Vroman's husband, William Vroman, 32, are awaiting trial on charges of burglary, a Class C felony, and auto theft, a Class D felony. Both men are accused of taking part in the December theft of vehicles from Rice Ford.

Officials have alleged that Vroman's murder was related to an auto theft ring that she apparently knew about. The Vromans also reportedly owed money to Jason Fisher.

Grant will be sentenced by Reed at 9 a.m. June 7. The Class D felonies are each punishable by six months to three years in prison and fines up to $10,000. The Class C felony is punishable by two to eight years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

Reed pointed out that if Grant has no prior felony convictions, the unlawful movement of a body charge could be considered as a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine up to $5,000.

Also, Reed said, if Grant does have a prior unrelated felony conviction within the past seven years, a portion of the sentence for the Class C felony charged in this case is nonsuspendable and Grant would have to serve at least two years for that offense.

Ralph Fisher's next court date is Thursday, Vroman's is May 29 and Jason Fisher's is May 30. A date for Aldrich's next hearing was not available. [[In-content Ad]]