Fick Pleads Guilty to Fatal Shooting, Attempted Murder
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Siara Sparkman-ssparkman@timesuniononline.com
Sonya Fick took her seat Tuesday as special Judge Curtis D. Palmer prepared to read her plea agreement to those assembled in the courtroom. Fick, 43, of 3778 N. CR 175E, Warsaw, was charged with two felony counts – murder and attempted murder – following a fatal shooting Dec. 18 near Pierceton. She faces a potential 85 years in prison. As part of the agreement she offered to plead guilty to those charges, a count of burglary causing bodily injury would be dismissed and she would withdraw her previous plea of not guilty to all counts. Fick was charged with murder in the Dec. 18 death of Steven L. Carman, 51, who died in his home at 44 EMS B10 Lane, Pierceton, from gun shot wounds to the head and chest. He also suffered multiple knife wounds to the back. Fick was also charged with the attempted murder of Joseph A. Glant, 54, Warsaw, a friend of Carman’s. On the day of the shootings, police say Fick broke into Carman’s home and hid in a closet. When Carman, Glant and Carman’s two children arrived and entered the home, Fick emerged and opened fire. Glant – wounded by gunfire – escaped to a neighboring residence and called police. The children were not hurt. Fick remained in the home and surrendered without incident when authorities arrived. Since being incarcerated, Fick has been treated for mental illness and is perscribed risperidone and sertraline, her attorney, Anthony S. Churchward, said Tuesday. Risperidone is used to treat schizophrenia and symptoms of bipolar disorder and sertraline to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and panic and anxiety disorders. Churchward said Fick has a history of mental illness, but that she was competent to proceed with the plea hearing. By entering the plea agreement, Fick gave up her right to trial. The plea agreement called for a sentence of up to 85 years on both counts, with the last 20 years suspended and served on probation. Accounting for good time and time served, Fick would be in her mid-70s before she could potentially be released from serving the 65-year portion of her sentence. Kosciusko County Prosecuting Attorney Daniel Hampton said he considered how old Fick would be upon her release when drafting the plea agreement. He said the plea was “more than just putting in numbers.” Fick’s trial originally was set to begin this week before she entered the plea agreement. The plea was taken under advisement by Palmer, Marshall County Circuit Court. If the plea agreement is denied, Fick could still face trial. If the plea is accepted, Fick’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Dec. 16 at 2 p.m.
