Staff Report

WARSAW — A Warsaw man was sentenced to serve nine years at the Indiana Department of Corrections for dealing methamphetamine.

Tyler Dane Sheetz

Tyler Dane Sheetz, 38, 1076 E. Lantern Road, Warsaw, was sentenced in two separate cases in Kosciusko Circuit Court Thursday, Jan. 18. Sheetz pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine, a level 6 felony, in the first case. In the second case, Sheetz pleaded guilty to dealing in methamphetamine, a level 3 felony. 

Prosecutor Brad Voelz told the court that Sheetz has a 20-year record of arrests and recommended the maximum sentence possible according to the terms of the plea agreement.

Circuit Court Judge Michael Reed sentenced Sheetz to 330 days at Kosciusko County Jail for the charge of possession of methamphetamine. Since Sheetz has approximately 328 days of jail time credit, it was determined the sentence will essentially be covered by time already served.

For the charge of dealing in methamphetamine, Sheetz was sentenced to nine years at the IDOC. The sentence is ordered to be served consecutive to any sentence imposed in any other open case. Reed recommended that Sheetz participate in the Recovery While Incarcerated program while in prison. 

In addition, Reed informed Sheetz that if he remains drug-free and conduct-clear while incarcerated, there may be a chance for a sentence modification at some point. 

According to an affidavit of probable cause, in March 2023, the NET 43 Drug Task Force conducted a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Sheetz. A confidential informant provided Sheetz with documented task force funds in exchange for 11.51 grams of a crystal substance that was represented to be methamphetamine but did not test positive for an illegal substance. The controlled purchase was captured on digital surveillance.