Man Receives Four-Year Prison Sentence For Drug Possession
By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews
WARSAW — A man received a four-year prison sentence for drug and illegal handgun possession.
Dustin Wayne Hine, 35, La Porte, was charged with possession of methamphetamine and carrying a handgun with a prior conviction, both level 5 felonies; and making a false sales document, a level 6 felony. Five additional criminal charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
Hine was sentenced in Kosciusko Circuit Court on Monday, Dec. 27.
On Nov. 20, 2020, a Warsaw Police officer responded to a welfare check on a woman in a vehicle. The officer arrived on scene and saw a woman inside a vehicle and a man standing outside of the vehicle.
According to court documents, the man said he left his wallet in Walmart and began to walk toward the store. The Warsaw officer walked into the store and had the man return to the vehicle.
A K9 unit at the scene alerted to the presence of illegal drugs inside the vehicle. While searching the vehicle, officers found drug paraphernalia with methamphetamine residue, bags of unused syringes, and a handgun reported stolen by the LaPorte Police Department. A wallet containing Hine’s identification was also found in the vehicle.
The officer was notified that Hine had left Walmart and was walking east toward North Detroit Street. Information was gathered that Hine had dumped merchandise belonging to Walmart in a dumpster behind a local business.
Hine told the officer that he drove the vehicle to Walmart and said the man and woman were passengers in his vehicle. He said he was not aware of the handgun in the vehicle but admitted to using methamphetamine. When asked about the items in the dumpster, Hine said he purchased the items but denied swapping the universal product codes on the merchandise.
Walmart employees said Hine paid for his transaction but that he placed false UPC labels on the merchandise that he scanned. In total, Hine paid $11.02 for merchandise valued at $91.26.
Hine was previously convicted of theft in Porter County in November 2016. He was also previously convicted of criminal recklessness in La Porte County in April 2019.
During court proceedings, Defense Attorney Austin Rovenstine submitted an acceptance letter from La Porte County’s Problem Solving Court as evidence. Problem Solving Court allows eligible participants to avoid post-conviction incarceration by agreeing to complete a substance abuse treatment program, remain alcohol and drug-free, and complete other evidence-based practices.
Rovenstine said La Porte County is still willing to accept Hine into its program if he receives a suspended sentence through Kosciusko County. However, he asked the court to recommend Hine for Recovery While Incarcerated if he receives prison time.
“He sincerely wants help for his addiction,” said Rovenstine.
“My addiction is something I fight every day,” said Hine. “I want to prove to the court and to my support system I can actually change. It’s a problem and I need to fix it.”
Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Michael Reed told Hine that a suspended sentence was “unrealistic” due to the charges.
“It’s up to you to show you want to change, not just lip service,” said Judge Reed. “You have to want it.”
For methamphetamine possession and carrying a handgun without a license with a prior conviction, Judge Reed sentenced Hine to three years in the Indiana Department of Correction on each charge. Both counts will be served concurrently, or at the same time.
Hine also received a one-year DoC sentence for making a false sales document. The count will be served consecutively to Hine’s other two charges.
In total, Hine received a four-year prison sentence. The case will be served consecutively to two additional criminal cases.
Hine must also pay $26.97 in restitution to Walmart. Judge Reed also recommended Hine for RWI during his prison sentence.