Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
A Warsaw man will serve 20 years in prison for dealing drugs.
During a two-day jury trial in late September, Shane Allen Ketcham, 30, Warsaw, was found guilty of dealing methamphetamine, a level 2 felony; dealing methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine, both level 4 felonies; and possession of methamphetamine, a level 6 felony.
Ketcham was sentenced on Monday, Oct. 26, in Kosciusko Circuit Court.
For the first count of dealing meth, Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Matthew Buehler sentenced Ketcham to 20 years in the Indiana Department of Correction. Ketcham also received a seven-year DOC sentence for the second dealing meth charge, with both sentences to be served at the same time.
Ketcham's meth possession charges were vacated as part of Indiana Code 35-38-1-6, in order to avoid double jeopardy.
Ketcham has 285 days of jail time credit, plus good time credit as calculated. He must also pay $350 in restitution to the Narcotics Enforcement Team 43 (NET 43) Drug Task Force.
Buehler asked Ketcham if he intended to seek an appeal for his sentence, and Ketcham said he would.
At sentencing, defense attorney Brian Pyle said Ketcham has an addiction history which "led him down this path." He asked the court to take that into consideration as a mitigator, noting that while Ketcham has a criminal history, it isn't lengthy. Pyle requested Ketcham's sentence be more on the advisory level.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Grossnickle also noted Ketcham's prior criminal history but said Ketcham was on probation when the drug dealing occurred. He asked for an aggravated sentence, requesting the dealing charges be served consecutively rather than concurrently.
Buehler said he found Ketcham's criminal history and probation violation as aggravators in the case.
"You were selling drugs as a business," said Buehler. "This is something you were heavily doing in our community."
Affidavit Of Probable Cause
In September 2025, NET 43 purchased a total of 16.7 grams of meth from Ketcham. A total of two purchases were captured on digital surveillance, with both purchases taking place in Syracuse.
