By Liz Adkins
InkFreeNews
WARSAW — An Indianapolis man will serve a four-year sentence through community corrections and probation after illegally possessing a firearm.
Casper Darwin Meade, 60, Indianapolis, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, a level 5 felony as a lesser included offense of a level 4 felony; driving while suspended prior, a class A misdemeanor; and possession of paraphernalia, a class C misdemeanor. Two additional criminal charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
Meade was sentenced in Kosciusko Superior Court One on Thursday, June 20.
For unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, Kosciusko Superior Court One Judge Karin McGrath sentenced Meade to four years in the Indiana Department of Correction. Two years will be executed and two years were suspended on formal probation.
Meade also received a six-month DOC sentence for driving while suspended prior and a two-month DOC sentence for paraphernalia possession. All three of Meade’s charges will be served at the same time. McGrath showed no objection to Meade serving the executed portion of his sentence through community corrections.
Meade has 131 days of jail time credit.
In total, Meade received a four-year sentence, with two years executed through community corrections and two years suspended on probation.
The firearm seized during this incident will be disposed of by the Nappanee Police Department.
At sentencing, Defense Attorney Nick Jacobs had Meade testify regarding the case’s circumstances. Meade said he was driving a company vehicle when he discovered a firearm inside the vehicle while he was in Nappanee. He told McGrath the firearm did not belong to him and that he didn’t call law enforcement as soon as he discovered the firearm.
Meade said he is the caregiver for his mother and girlfriend, and completed a rehabilitative program at Hickory Treatment Center in Rockville.
Jacobs noted Meade was approved for community corrections, which would transfer to Marion County.
Deputy Prosecutor Joseph Sobek expressed concern with the factual basis for the case if Meade was not claiming ownership for the firearm. McGrath said Meade continuing to drive the company vehicle while knowing about the firearm was a factual basis for possession.
Jacobs said he and Meade both wanted to proceed with the presented plea agreement for the case.
McGrath told Meade that even if the firearm was unintentionally left in the vehicle by another party, he should’ve called the police.
On Nov. 6, 2022, a Nappanee Police officer was in the area of SR 19 and CR 1350N when he saw a speeding Ford F350. The officer pulled the vehicle over and identified its driver as Meade.
According to court documents, the officer discovered Meade had a driving status of suspended prior with an indefinite reinstatement date.
While searching Meade’s vehicle, the officer found three THC vape cartridges and a loaded handgun.
Meade denied any knowledge of the handgun and vape cartridges. He admitted to being a felon.
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