Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
A man will serve nine years in prison for possessing child pornography and drugs.
Michael David Mench, 44, New Castle, is charged with possession of child pornography with an aggravating factor and possession of methamphetamine, both level 5 felonies. Three additional charges and a misdemeanor case for violating driving conditions were all dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
Mench was sentenced in Kosciusko Superior Court I on Thursday, May 28.
For child pornography possession, Kosciusko Superior Court I Judge Karin McGrath sentenced Mench to five years in the Indiana Department of Correction. Mench also received a four-year DOC sentence for meth possession. Both of these charges will be served back-to-back to each other as well as to three additional criminal cases.
Mench is required to register as a sex offender. McGrath showed no objection to Mench participating in Recovery While Incarcerated during his sentence.
At sentencing, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Joseph Sobek said Mench's criminal history "says it all."
"Mr. Mench cannot or will not conform to the rules of society," said Sobek, who requested a maximum 12-year sentence with nine of those years executed.
Defense attorney Austin Rovenstine said Mench had already been in prison for about a year and a half, describing these cases as "dual addictions" Mench was working to address while he was incarcerated.
"He recognizes the market he helped sustain when downloading (the child pornography files)," said Rovenstine. "He is disgusted by the role he perpetuated and accepts responsibility for his actions."
Mench apologized for his actions in court, noting he was "disgusted and appalled" with himself.
McGrath noted Mench's prior criminal history included crimes against children.
"You say you feel sad and mad and question how people can do that to children," said McGrath. "That sentiment might have carried some weight, but you have a prior conviction (for this) already. You describe this case as a 'mark on your back,' but you already had one."
Affidavits Of Probable Cause
On Sept. 16, 2024, an Indiana State Police trooper pulled over a vehicle on U.S. 30 in Warsaw when he noticed its registration was expired. The driver was identified as Mench, who was exhibiting nervous behavior.
According to court documents, Mench told police he had drugs inside his vehicle. Officers located 26.3 grams of meth in Mench's vehicle.
On Sept. 19, 2024, a Nappanee Police officer obtained a search warrant for Mench's cellphone regarding alleged drug dealing and possession. During the phone's download, the officer found 17 videos depicting child pornography.
In an interview on Oct. 30, 2024, Mench admitted to downloading child pornography and said it was "a phase" he had gone through.
