Syracuse Man Handed 17-Year Sentence For Drug Dealing, Gang Activity
January 7, 2020 at 3:55 a.m.
By Amanda [email protected]
Neal Ryan Minnick, 31, of 202 E. Washington St., Syracuse, appeared in front of Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Michael Reed Monday. He was sentenced to 10 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections for a Level 2 felony of dealing methamphetamine and 10 years in IDOC for dealing a narcotic drug, a Level 2 felony. Those sentences will run concurrently. He also got one year in the IDOC for criminal gang activity, a Level 6 felony; and four years in the IDOC for a Level 4 felony of possession of methamphetamine. A sentence of two years in IDOC for operating a vehicle as a habitual traffic violator, a Level 5 felony and 60 days for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class C misdemeanor, will both run concurrently, but consecutively to the rest of the sentences.
Minnick also was ordered to pay $300 restitution to the Warsaw Police Department and forfeit the firearm in the case to the WPD.
According to the probable cause affidavits filed in the two cases, on Nov. 30, 2017, Warsaw Drug Task Force officers conducted a controlled purchase from Minnick for 7.7 grams of methamphetamine. When officers searched Minnick’s residence, they located 98 grams of methamphetamine, 6.8 grams of heroin and a .40 caliber handgun. Minnick also admitted to police he was a member of a gang.
On March 17, 2018, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s deputies responded to an automobile accident where the driver was slumped over the steering wheel. The driver was Minnick, whose speech was slurred and his eyes were bloodshot. Police determined Minnick’s driver’s license status was a lifetime habitual traffic violator and found a glass smoking device with white residue and 20 grams of methamphetamine on Minnick. Blood tests after his arrest found amphetamine, methamphetamine, benzylechonine and methadone in his system. Minnick had previously been convicted of operating a vehicle with a controlled substance in his body on March 6, 2018, according to court records.
On Monday, Kosciusko County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Hampton said the plea agreement takes into consideration several circumstances, including Minnick’s acceptance of responsibility. However, Hampton said, Minnick has been dealing methamphetamine and heroin in this community, carrying guns and admitted to being a gang member.
Minnick was part of the last men’s Jail Chemical Addiction Program graduating class, where Kosciusko County Sheriff Kyle Dukes praised Minnick’s progress – even going as far as to thank Minnick.
Hampton acknowledged that during Monday’s sentencing, saying that the system is trying to offer Minnick ways to rehabilitate himself, but “the bottom line is, judge, Neil did have a history of being a substantial dealer in our community.”
Minnick’s attorney, John Barrett, told Reed that his client understands he’s going to receive a substantial sentence but that he’s made significant steps since he’s been locked up, including helping other inmates in the Kosciusko County Jail.
“I come to you today a clean man,” Minnick said. “I was a sick individual and a broken man. I want to apologize to you guys, to my family.”
Minnick said he sold drugs to support his own habit.
“To do what I gotta do today, nobody takes pleasure in that,” Reed said. “You’ve taken steps to do the right thing, but there’s consequences for our actions. I give you credit for completing JCAP. Stay on this course. Good luck, sir.”
Neal Ryan Minnick, 31, of 202 E. Washington St., Syracuse, appeared in front of Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Michael Reed Monday. He was sentenced to 10 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections for a Level 2 felony of dealing methamphetamine and 10 years in IDOC for dealing a narcotic drug, a Level 2 felony. Those sentences will run concurrently. He also got one year in the IDOC for criminal gang activity, a Level 6 felony; and four years in the IDOC for a Level 4 felony of possession of methamphetamine. A sentence of two years in IDOC for operating a vehicle as a habitual traffic violator, a Level 5 felony and 60 days for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class C misdemeanor, will both run concurrently, but consecutively to the rest of the sentences.
Minnick also was ordered to pay $300 restitution to the Warsaw Police Department and forfeit the firearm in the case to the WPD.
According to the probable cause affidavits filed in the two cases, on Nov. 30, 2017, Warsaw Drug Task Force officers conducted a controlled purchase from Minnick for 7.7 grams of methamphetamine. When officers searched Minnick’s residence, they located 98 grams of methamphetamine, 6.8 grams of heroin and a .40 caliber handgun. Minnick also admitted to police he was a member of a gang.
On March 17, 2018, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s deputies responded to an automobile accident where the driver was slumped over the steering wheel. The driver was Minnick, whose speech was slurred and his eyes were bloodshot. Police determined Minnick’s driver’s license status was a lifetime habitual traffic violator and found a glass smoking device with white residue and 20 grams of methamphetamine on Minnick. Blood tests after his arrest found amphetamine, methamphetamine, benzylechonine and methadone in his system. Minnick had previously been convicted of operating a vehicle with a controlled substance in his body on March 6, 2018, according to court records.
On Monday, Kosciusko County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Hampton said the plea agreement takes into consideration several circumstances, including Minnick’s acceptance of responsibility. However, Hampton said, Minnick has been dealing methamphetamine and heroin in this community, carrying guns and admitted to being a gang member.
Minnick was part of the last men’s Jail Chemical Addiction Program graduating class, where Kosciusko County Sheriff Kyle Dukes praised Minnick’s progress – even going as far as to thank Minnick.
Hampton acknowledged that during Monday’s sentencing, saying that the system is trying to offer Minnick ways to rehabilitate himself, but “the bottom line is, judge, Neil did have a history of being a substantial dealer in our community.”
Minnick’s attorney, John Barrett, told Reed that his client understands he’s going to receive a substantial sentence but that he’s made significant steps since he’s been locked up, including helping other inmates in the Kosciusko County Jail.
“I come to you today a clean man,” Minnick said. “I was a sick individual and a broken man. I want to apologize to you guys, to my family.”
Minnick said he sold drugs to support his own habit.
“To do what I gotta do today, nobody takes pleasure in that,” Reed said. “You’ve taken steps to do the right thing, but there’s consequences for our actions. I give you credit for completing JCAP. Stay on this course. Good luck, sir.”
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