South Haven woman sentenced in drug case
A South Haven woman sentenced to four years for dealing drugs will not have to be incarcerated more than the 93 days she already spent in Porter County Jail.
Shawna Cynthia Rogyam, 19, of the 700 block of Imperial Road, will spend the remaining part of her sentence on probation for her July 27 plea to Level 5 felony dealing in a Schedule I, II or II controlled substance.
Rogyam, who was sentenced Friday, sold 0.7 grams of what she said was heroin to a Porter County Drug Task Force informant for $75 plus $60 for gas money, but it tested as methylphenidate, according to court records.
The deal happened in the parking lot of a South Haven fast food restaurant on U.S. 6.
Gary man admits selling prescription drugs
A Gary man has pleaded guilty to one of three felonies against him for alleged selling prescription medications to Porter County Drug Task Force sources.
At an Oct. 9 sentencing hearing, Richard Darnell Bailey, 34, of the 6200 block of Melton Road, faces up to eight years in prison for his Friday plea to Class C felony dealing in a Schedule IV controlled substance.
According to court documents, Bailey sold 30 Xanax pills for $120 in June 2013, meeting at a convenience store and doing the deal as the confidential source drove him through Woodland Village Apartments.
Bailey also allegedly sold 10 Vicodin and three Fentanyl patches, which deliver the narcotic drug through the skin, for $65 in July 2013 at the same store and on the same drive through Woodland Village.
Valparaiso attorney scheduled for sentencing
The Porter County Prosecutor Office’s case against a Valparaiso attorney accused of stealing his clients’ money — including a $612,000 settlement check for a disabled child — is on hold until the federal case plays out, although the county will still pursue seven felony charges against the attorney.
Clark Holesinger, 54, of the 500 block of Fordwick Lane, is expected to be sentenced in U.S. District Court in South Bend on Thursday for one count each of wire fraud and money laundering. Holesinger is scheduled to appear in Porter County Superior Court 5 on Sept. 1 for another hearing and possible plea in connection with the county charges.
Defense attorney Tom Vanes told Porter Superior Judge Mary Harper on Tuesday that the federal court would give Holesinger 60 days to report for incarceration, so Holesinger would like to take care of the Porter County charges before reporting to prison.
Holesinger began taking money from clients in 2008, often using one client’s money to pay Internal Revenue Service fines for another, court documents state.
Valparaiso man charged with rape of 17-year-old
The Porter County Prosecutor’s Office filed rape charges against a Valparaiso man involving an underage girl who was staying at his home.
Adrian A. Favor, 20, of the 200 block of Franklin Street, is charged with two counts of Level 3 felony rape, each carrying a sentence of up to 16 years.
The girl, who court records identify as being 17 years old, had asked to stay at his house on April 28 because of trouble at her home, and a neighbor said he bragged about having sex with the girl while she was drunk on vodka he gave her, according to the probable cause affidavit.
A sexual assault examination kit found Favor’s DNA on the girl, court records state.
Favor is to be held without bond until his initial hearing when arrested on the warrant.
Cash reported stolen from dentist’s office
Chesterton police are investigating the weekend burglary of $195 in petty cash from a dentist’s office.
About 6:45 a.m. Monday, an office manager at Duneland Dental Group, 106 Indian Boundary Road, contacted to police after she arrived at work and noticed a window in the break room was not fully closed.
She discovered $195 in petty cash was taken from a reception desk drawer in an upstairs office. Nothing else appeared to be missing.
Investigation into tire-slashing spree continues
Valparaiso police believe they have a suspect who allegedly used a knife to puncture tires on 22 vehicles parked at Mayfield Apartments over the weekend, as well as damaging a moped.
Police responded about 5:45 a.m. Monday to the apartment complex, located on Mayfield Avenue, east of Valparaiso University, when they interviewed the suspect, a 36-year-old man who lives in one of the apartments.
Police had photographed and taken samples of blood drops found on several of the punctured tires and on the moped.
Police interviewed the suspect, who has not been charged, after he consented to a search of his apartment. Police noticed small cuts on his right hand, which he first said were from an early morning altercation over the weekend outside a local store.
The suspect denied he punctured the vehicle tires. Police collected DNA swabs from his mouth before releasing him.
Police estimated total damage to the vehicles at $4,650.
Valparaiso woman sleeping in car faces charges
A Valparaiso area woman faces an assortment of charges related to drinking and driving after police allegedly found her unresponsive in her car in the middle of the road.
Deputies with the Porter County Sheriff’s Department were called at 1:25 a.m. Wednesday to the intersection of County Roads 200W and 900N in Liberty Township.
They found Laurie Lucchesi, 29, of the 400 block of North County Road 475W, unresponsive and slumped over the driver’s seat with the window open. She allegedly told police she was on her way to a friend’s house and was unaware that she had been sleeping in her car in the middle of the road.
Police transported her to Porter County Jail. She faces a felony charge of drunken driving with a prior, and two related misdemeanor charges.
— James D. Wolf Jr. and Amy Lavalley
