Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
A Warsaw woman sentenced to 30 years in prison for her role in the sale of cocaine to an undercover officer was released recently following a sentence modification hearing.
Khrystal England, 27, Warsaw, was ordered released May 13 by Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Rex Reed. England was sentenced Sept. 6, 1996.
A 12-member jury found England guilty of aiding Timothy "Bubba" Roush, 39, of Warsaw, in the sale of cocaine to a confidential police informant near Center Lake Park. She was charged with aiding, inducing or causing dealing in cocaine, a Class A felony.
A Class A felony has a minimum 20-year nonsuspendable term, according to authorities.
"I don't know how you can do that on a mandantory sentence for 20 years," said an undercover officer who aided in the investigation. "The public cries out for mandatory sentences, then they get changed by other people," the agent added.
"The interest of society does not demand or require that the defendant shall suffer further imprisonment," the order for modification of sentence said. England will be on probation pending her good behavior for the remainder of her sentence, according to the court order.
England fled to Florida after being convicted on the drug charges in February 1996. She was caught in Florida seven weeks later and transported back to Indiana for her September sentencing.
England's husband, Rodney, 38, same address, was sentenced in April to 20 years in Kosciusko Circuit Court.
He pleaded guilty to charges of dealing cocaine.
Police speculated that part of Rodney's plea agreement may have included freedom for his wife.
Kosciusko County Prosecutor David Kolbe said the court made the final decision on what should be done in this case.
"There was no written agreement. There was discussion as to if her husband pleaded guilty there would be some reconsideration on her case," Kolbe said. "The probation department advised that the special operations team favored it."
