A Kimmel woman was sentenced in Whitley County for drug-related charges following a July arrest. Michelle A. Stimmel, 36, Kimmel, was sentenced Jan. 20 to a total of four years, with three years incarceration and one year suspended and on probation and assigned to Whitley County work release. According to a probable cause affidavit filed with the Whitley County Prosecutor’s Office, Stimmel was charged July 24 with aiding another individual in manufacturing methamphetamine; possession of heroin; possession of a synthetic drug look-alike substance; and possession of marijuana. According to the Whitley County Drug Task Force report, a local merchant reported that a man had purchased drain cleaner each Wednesday for three weeks. When he saw the same man enter the store for a fourth time, the merchant hid the cleaner and he obtained a license plate from his vehicle. The plate belonged to Stimmel and the other man involved was identified as Jarod Hampton. Officers obtained search warrants for their property and warrants for their arrest. Officers interviewed Stimmel and Hampton while they were in Whitley County jail. Hampton said that Stimmel was never involved with manufacturing meth, but she did aid in purchasing the materials to make it. Stimmel had a previous conviction of possession of paraphernalia. No further records for Hampton are available, according to Whitley County Circuit Court Bailiff Heather Shepherd. A motion was filed to dismiss Stimmel’s remaining 10 charges for this case on Aug.12. Nearly two weeks after that filing, Stimmel was arrested on drug-related charges and charges of corrupt business influence in Kosciusko County. According to a probable cause affidavit filed with the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office, a police officer spoke with an undercover informant who said they arranged to purchase 30 methadone pills from Stimmel at Stimmelators Gentleman’s Club. Officers followed the informant to the club and recognized Stimmel. The informant said that Stimmel’s father, former club owner Samuel Stimmel, provides money to purchase ingredients and Michelle provides the plant material, the report states. The informant said the drug is distributed to Kyle Dehart, Jason Bontrager and others who distributed the product for compensation. Stimmel’s court appearance for the local charges is set for April 20. Bontrager, arrested alongside Stimmel on similar charges, initially entered a plea agreement but withdrew it Monday. His jury trial is set for July 21 to 22 at 8:30 a.m. Dehart is also facing two murder charges stemming from a fatal shooting in Syracuse Feb. 19. He remains in the Kosciusko County jail with no bond. His pre-trail conference is set for 3 p.m. May 11.
