Woman Avoids Jail Time After Making Positive Steps In Recovery
By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews
WARSAW — A woman will participate in community corrections and avoid jail time after making positive steps in her recovery from drug use.
Kendall Elizabeth Rodgers, 27, 721 S. Main St., Middlebury, was charged with dealing methamphetamine, a level 5 felony; and possession of a narcotic drug, a level 6 felony. Methamphetamine possession and maintaining a common nuisance charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
Rodgers was sentenced in Kosciusko Circuit Court on Monday, Aug. 30.
On Aug. 15, 2019, NET43 Drug Task Force officers obtained a search warrant for a home on West CR 400N in Warsaw. The warrant was based upon intelligence gathered from several traffic stops.
At the home, officers found 131 grams of methamphetamine and one gram of heroin. During the search, three people at the home, including Rodgers, were taken into custody.
One of Rodgers’ co-defendants, Frank Daniels, was sentenced in March to five years in the Indiana Department of Corrections for dealing methamphetamine.
During court proceedings, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Matt Buehler said details in Rodgers’ pre-sentence investigation report speak volumes for the responsibility she’s taken.
“Kendall has come a long way from where she started in this case,” said Defense Attorney Jay Rigdon. “This is a lifestyle she’s put behind her.”
Rodgers said she’s celebrating 18 months of sobriety and acknowledged having a great support system behind her to continue down the right path. She also said she recently completed a rehabilitative program.
For dealing methamphetamine, Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Michael Reed sentenced Rodgers to three years in the Kosciusko County Jail. She was also sentenced to one year in KCJ for narcotic drug possession. Both counts will be served concurrently, or at the same time. The final year of Rodgers’ sentence was also suspended on formal probation.
In total, Rodgers received a three-year jail sentence, with two years executed and one year suspended. Judge Reed said he had no objection to Rodgers serving her executed sentence through work release or community corrections. Rodgers has been accepted into the county’s community corrections program.
“You’ve taken good steps,” said Judge Reed. “I want you to stay on that path.”