By Lasca Randels
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — A Warsaw man was sentenced to seven years in prison on drug-related charges in two separate cases.

Daniel Gonzalez

Daniel Granados Gonzalez, 21, 1202 Wooster Road, No. 51, Warsaw, appeared in Kosciusko Circuit Court Thursday, April 16, and pleaded guilty to dealing cocaine, a level 4 felony; and possession of cocaine, a level 6 felony.

In January 2019, Indiana State Police and the Warsaw Police Department served a search warrant at a residence in Warsaw. When officers entered the residence, they found no one inside. In one bedroom, officers found an ammunition can that contained a plastic bag with cocaine and weighed more than 28 grams. Officers also found a .45 caliber handgun. 

In another bedroom, which reportedly belonged to Gonzalez, police found a lockbox containing a bag with cocaine that weighed less than one gram, along with $400 in cash.

Officers spoke with the other man who lived at the residence. He allegedly admitted he had purchased the handgun from Gonzalez for $500. He said Gonzalez was going to buy the gun back once he had the money. He said he uses the handgun to protect the property. He further admitted that he and Gonzalez would travel to Fort Wayne every other week and purchase cocaine and marijuana. The man also told police that he and Gonzalez would purchase 3.5 grams of cocaine and a cutting agent and would mix the cocaine with the cutting agent. The two would then sell cocaine to friends to offset the costs.

On Feb. 21, 2019, an officer with the Warsaw Police Department observed a silver Volkswagen exceeding the speed limit on North Detroit Street. A traffic stop was initiated, and the driver was identified as Gonzalez. According to the officer, Gonzalez appeared “extremely scared and more nervous than a normal person.”

The officer found that Gonzalez’s driver’s license had been suspended. A K9 officer was used to conduct an outer air search of the vehicle and made a positive alert.

According to the probable cause affidavit, the officer searched the vehicle and found an envelope that contained 28.1 grams of cocaine and two digital scales that contained marijuana residue.

In court today, Gonzalez’s attorney, David Kolbe, told Judge Michael Reed that Gonzalez has accepted responsibility for his actions. 

Kolbe asked Reed to consider a split sentence, with probation on the front end. The reason for this request, Kolbe said, is that the Recovery While Incarcerated program is currently suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“I’m urging, until we flatten the curve, if you could enter the sentence and put him on probation,” Kolbe said. 

Gonzalez then addressed the court. 

“I would like to apologize for my actions when I was 19,” Gonzalez said. “I’m trying to be a better man. Hopefully, the court will give me a chance to prove that I can be a better man.” 

“I think it’s unrealistic to give you probation upfront with these charges,” Reed said. “Nobody takes any joy in sending anyone to prison, but we have to be accountable for our actions.”

Reed pointed out that Gonzalez was out on bond when the second incident occurred. 

“I can’t overlook that,” Reed said. 

Reed sentenced Gonzalez to six years at the Indiana Department of Corrections for the charge of dealing cocaine and one year at IDOC for the charge of possession of cocaine. The sentences are to be served consecutively. 

Gonzalez was given a total of four days of jail time credit. If Gonzalez completes the RWI program successfully and remains in good standing while at IDOC, Reed said he will consider a sentence modification.

The remaining charges were dismissed pursuant to the plea agreement.