Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Ralph Berkey Jr., 34, Elkhart, was sentenced today in Kosciusko Circuit Court on a charge of attempted manslaughter.
Berkey pleaded guilty to the crime Oct. 30. The charge results from the May 27 armed robbery of National City Bank, Leesburg, in which Berkey and Criss Duncan, 43, Shipshewana, allegedly fired shots at Milford Town Marshal David Hobbs.
Berkey was sentenced to 20 years in prison, a $1 fine and court costs. Judge Rex Reed, Kosciusko Circuit Court, ordered the sentence served concurrent to a pending federal charge against Berkey for armed bank robbery.
Berkey pleaded in accordance to a plea agreement. He originally was charged with attempted murder, but the charge was reduced per agreement.
Criss Duncan has his initial hearing in Circuit Court this morning. Duncan is facing a charge of attempted murder for firing shots at Hobbs.
Reed entered an initial plea of not guilty for Duncan and set June 7 as his trial date.
In federal court, Duncan was convicted on four charges stemming from the bank robbery. He was convicted of armed bank robbery, using a firearm during a crime of violence, being a convicted felon in possession of a gun and arson.
Berkey's testimony was used against Duncan in court, in accordance with a plea agreement.
Duncan has a 1983 felony conviction for voluntary manslaughter in Elkhart County. The arson charge relates to Duncan and Berkey burning the vehicle used in the robbery.
Reed today set Duncan's bond at $500,000 surety. He previously was held without bond.
Duncan will next appear in Kosciusko Circuit Court April 12 for a status conference hearing.
