By Liz Adkins
InkFreeNews

Michael Lee Eppenbaugh

WARSAW — A Warsaw man will serve over six years in prison for multiple criminal cases involving vehicle pursuits and auto thefts.

Michael Lee Eppenbaugh, 42, 1627 Lilac Lane, Warsaw, was charged with operating a vehicle after forfeiture of license for life, a level 5 felony; three counts of resisting law enforcement, three counts of auto theft, and possession of methamphetamine, all level 6 felonies; and operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a class C misdemeanor. Nine additional criminal charges were all dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

Eppenbaugh was sentenced in Kosciusko Superior Court Three on Tuesday, July 30.

In total, for all five criminal cases Eppenbaugh was sentenced for, he received a 13-year sentence at the Indiana Department of Correction. Six and one-half years of Eppenbaugh’s sentence will be executed, and 6 1/2 years were suspended on formal probation.

All of Eppenbaugh’s cases will be served back-to-back to each other, as well as to an additional criminal case Eppenbaugh has already been sentenced for.

He has 40 days of jail time credit.

At sentencing, Defense Attorney Cory Spreen called Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office Detective Sgt. Shane Bucher as a witness. Bucher said he was assigned several of Eppenbaugh’s criminal cases in December 2023. He testified that Eppenbaugh appeared to be under the influence when he was taken into custody on multiple outstanding warrants.

As time went on, Bucher said Eppenbaugh was upfront with law enforcement, providing information on open investigations. He estimated Eppenbaugh assisted with a dozen criminal cases, noting that Eppenbaugh’s health issues and health issues within Eppenbaugh’s family gave him a “new lease on life.”

“Michael has a good heart but makes poor decisions when he’s under the influence,” said Bucher. “He’s in a good state of mind when he’s clean, and it takes a lot of responsibility to make things right.”

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jennifer Naue said she was previously aware of Eppenbaugh’s cooperation with Bucher, but was struck by how similar Eppenbaugh’s criminal cases were. She highlighted the amount of times Eppenbaugh recklessly drove and resisted arrest.

“All this behavior was very risky to himself and others,” said Naue. “He’s lucky he is alive and that no one was killed.”

Naue asked the court to consider Eppenbaugh’s criminal history and the facts within each case.

Spreen did not diminish the choices Eppenbaugh made, but said Eppenbaugh is very focused on maintaining his sobriety.

In court, Eppenbaugh said he struggled with addiction and life obstacles.

“That doesn’t excuse my actions or my behavior,” said Eppenbaugh. “I made those decisions and I’m truly remorseful.”

Eppenbaugh said using meth led to “a whirlwind of problems” and telling the truth has “lifted a huge weight off my shoulders.”

“I’m so disappointed that I’ve hurt the ones who love me, people who are truly loving, caring people,” said Eppenbaugh. “I’m truly sorry for what I’ve done.”

On April 7, 2022, a Warsaw Police officer responded to a report of a suspicious person at Lowe’s. The officer received further information that the person, identified as Eppenbaugh, had a warrant for a probation violation.

According to court documents, Eppenbaugh left the scene in a vehicle and a pursuit began. During the pursuit, Eppenbaugh traveled north at high rates of speed on SR 15, passing vehicles in posted no-passing zones. Officers lost sight of Eppenbaugh northeast of Leesburg. The vehicle Eppenbaugh was driving was later found at an undisclosed location. Inside the vehicle, officers found a scale with meth residue.

On March 17, 2023, a KCSO deputy saw a vehicle with connections to Eppenbaugh, who had multiple outstanding warrants for his arrest. A pursuit began, with Eppenbaugh driving at speeds in excess of 100 mph and disregarding stop signs. The pursuit was terminated after officers lost sight of the vehicle. Officers later located the vehicle Eppenbaugh was driving and discovered it was stolen from a location in Mishawaka.

Kosciusko 911 dispatch then advised of a second vehicle being stolen from a nearby North Webster business, about a half mile from the location where the first stolen vehicle was recovered. Video footage of the theft positively identified Eppenbaugh as the suspect.

On March 20, 2023, an Indiana State Police trooper received information about Eppenbaugh’s location in Warsaw after Eppenbaugh fled from officers in a pursuit three days prior. Officers saw Eppenbaugh arrive at a home while driving a vehicle. Eppenbaugh was exhibiting physical signs of intoxication and tested 0.11% BAC on a portable breath test.

On Nov. 27, 2023, an ISP trooper received information about Eppenbaugh having multiple warrants for his arrest. The trooper found the vehicle Eppenbaugh was in possession of and a pursuit began. During the pursuit, Eppenbaugh ran a stop sign and drove at speeds in excess of 70 mph in Warsaw’s city limits. Officers lost sight of the vehicle on SR 25.

On Dec. 3, 2023, an ISP trooper learned Eppenbaugh was staying at a Warsaw residence and parked a vehicle stolen from Elkhart County at the home.

Eppenbaugh’s driving privileges are suspended for life.