Judge Hears Theft Pleas

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By Craig Brosman-

Kosciusko County Superior I Court Judge Duane Huffer took two similar plea agreements under advisement until Feb. 22.

Huffer heard pleas from 17-year-old Dillon Ong and 31-year-old Katrina Vanness for related charges.

Ong, who was waived to adult court for a prior criminal record in juvenile court, was charged with two counts of theft, a Class D felony, residential entry, a Class D felony and burglary, a Class C felony.

Ong pleaded guilty to theft, residential entry and burglary. In exchange for his plea, prosecuting attorney Daniel Hampton agreed to dismiss the final count of theft.

If Huffer accepts Ong’s plea, imprisonment shall not exceed four years and sentencing shall run concurrent. Ong also will be required to pay back restitution to the victims.

In the charging information for Ong, it alleges that on July 7, 2011, he broke into Smokey Bone’s Tobacco and committed theft. It also alleges that on or about June 25, 2011, Ong broke into a home in Kosciusko County and committed residential entry.

On Sept. 20, 2011, Ong was waived to adult court due to prior criminal activity as a minor. Within the order to waive Ong to adult court it states that Ong is beyond rehabilitation under the juvenile justice system and it is in the best interest of Ong and the community that Ong stand trial as an adult.

Vanness was charged with theft, a Class D felony, and failure to appear in court, a Class D felony. Vanness was also charged with the habitual offender enhancement for having two prior unrelated felony convictions.

For her plea she shall not be sentenced to more than four years in prison and sentencing shall run concurrent. If Huffer accepts the plea, the habitual enhancement could multiply the imprisonment time by three times the normal sentence.

In the probable cause affidavit for Vanness, on June 8, 2011, she allegedly stole $282.98 of groceries from New Market in North Webster. It alleges that the manager at New Market saw Vanness leave the store with a cart full of groceries that she did not pay for. When the manager confronted Vanness, she told him that her husband had paid for the groceries and she walked away. The manager found Vanness’ purse and inside her identification. Later on, Vanness admitted that she had stole the groceries from New Market.

Vanness was ordered to appear in front of Huffer Sept. 28 at 8:30 a.m. She did not appear for her court date and was subsequently charged with a second Class D felony of failure to appear.

In addition to the two Class D felonies, Vanness is charged with the habitual offender enhancement. Under the charging information for the habitual offender enhancement, it states that on Oct. 28, 2004, she was sentenced on one count of forgery, a Class C felony. It also states that on Aug. 25, 2009, she was sentenced for one count of theft, a Class D felony.

Both Ong and Vanness are currently being held at the Kosciusko County Jail. Ong is being held on $5,000 surety-only bond and Vanness is being held on $25,000 surety-only bond as of press time.[[In-content Ad]]

Kosciusko County Superior I Court Judge Duane Huffer took two similar plea agreements under advisement until Feb. 22.

Huffer heard pleas from 17-year-old Dillon Ong and 31-year-old Katrina Vanness for related charges.

Ong, who was waived to adult court for a prior criminal record in juvenile court, was charged with two counts of theft, a Class D felony, residential entry, a Class D felony and burglary, a Class C felony.

Ong pleaded guilty to theft, residential entry and burglary. In exchange for his plea, prosecuting attorney Daniel Hampton agreed to dismiss the final count of theft.

If Huffer accepts Ong’s plea, imprisonment shall not exceed four years and sentencing shall run concurrent. Ong also will be required to pay back restitution to the victims.

In the charging information for Ong, it alleges that on July 7, 2011, he broke into Smokey Bone’s Tobacco and committed theft. It also alleges that on or about June 25, 2011, Ong broke into a home in Kosciusko County and committed residential entry.

On Sept. 20, 2011, Ong was waived to adult court due to prior criminal activity as a minor. Within the order to waive Ong to adult court it states that Ong is beyond rehabilitation under the juvenile justice system and it is in the best interest of Ong and the community that Ong stand trial as an adult.

Vanness was charged with theft, a Class D felony, and failure to appear in court, a Class D felony. Vanness was also charged with the habitual offender enhancement for having two prior unrelated felony convictions.

For her plea she shall not be sentenced to more than four years in prison and sentencing shall run concurrent. If Huffer accepts the plea, the habitual enhancement could multiply the imprisonment time by three times the normal sentence.

In the probable cause affidavit for Vanness, on June 8, 2011, she allegedly stole $282.98 of groceries from New Market in North Webster. It alleges that the manager at New Market saw Vanness leave the store with a cart full of groceries that she did not pay for. When the manager confronted Vanness, she told him that her husband had paid for the groceries and she walked away. The manager found Vanness’ purse and inside her identification. Later on, Vanness admitted that she had stole the groceries from New Market.

Vanness was ordered to appear in front of Huffer Sept. 28 at 8:30 a.m. She did not appear for her court date and was subsequently charged with a second Class D felony of failure to appear.

In addition to the two Class D felonies, Vanness is charged with the habitual offender enhancement. Under the charging information for the habitual offender enhancement, it states that on Oct. 28, 2004, she was sentenced on one count of forgery, a Class C felony. It also states that on Aug. 25, 2009, she was sentenced for one count of theft, a Class D felony.

Both Ong and Vanness are currently being held at the Kosciusko County Jail. Ong is being held on $5,000 surety-only bond and Vanness is being held on $25,000 surety-only bond as of press time.[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092

e-Edition


e-edition

Sign up


for our email newsletters

Weekly Top Stories

Sign up to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every Sunday

Daily Updates & Breaking News Alerts

Sign up to get our daily updates and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox daily

Latest Stories


Friends Of Syracuse Library To Host Book Sale On Friday And Saturday
SYRACUSE - Friends of Syracuse Public Library will host a used book sale Friday, Oct. 11 and Saturday, Oct. 12 in the downstairs meeting room of the library.

Warsaw Marching Tiger Pride Qualifies for ISSMA Scholastic State Finals
The Warsaw Community Schools' Marching Tiger Pride earned a gold rating and placed among the top 16 bands in the Scholastic A Class across four sites in the state at the ISSMA Scholastic Prelims contest held at Homestead High School on Saturday.

Grace College Professor To Read At Atelier Gallery In Downtown Warsaw
WINONA LAKE — Grace Professor of English and Creative Writing Dr. John Poch will read from his most recent book of poems on Thursday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. at Atelier Gallery, 104 E. Center St., Warsaw.

Wildman To Temporarily Lease A Portion Of Marsh Building
Wildman Business Group will temporarily lease a portion of the former Marsh building at 500 S. Buffalo St., Warsaw.

Water Line Extension Happening For Portion Of N. CR 100E
Warsaw Redevelopment Commission is working with Applied Thermal to extend a water line up a portion of North CR 100E.