DECATUR COUNTY, IN — Heath Newcomb has been sentenced to a total of more than 10 years by Judge Tim Day in the Decatur Circuit Court after entering guilty pleas to several charges.
Newcomb pleaded guilty to Unlawful Possession of a Legend Drug (Level 6 felony) and received a 180-day sentence.
He pleaded guilty to Escape (Level 5 felony) and was sentenced to time already served from February 22, 2020, through January 25, 2022.
Newcomb also pleaded guilty to Possession of Methamphetamine (Level 5 felony), and to being a Habitual Offender under Indiana law. There was no agreement on that sentence, so Judge Day had the option to sentence Newcomb to a range of three to 12 years.
“Mr. Newcomb has put the State in a position where we have to advocate for a long period of incarceration because of his lengthy criminal history,” said Decatur County Prosecutor Nate Harter, who indicated Newcomb’s previous record for consideration.
Harter said these include four convictions for felony theft or conversion, felony intimidation, and 11 misdemeanors including false informing.
“The other reason we had to argue for executed time behind bars is that Mr. Newcomb has failed probation approximately 11 times in different counties. Add the current Escape conviction, and we couldn’t in good conscience agree to a sentence of community supervision,” Harter said.
Judge Day ultimately imposed eight years, all in prison, with a minimum of four years required before any modification can be filed.
The Prosecution recommended that the maximum be imposed, with all 12 to be served in the Indiana Department of Correction, while Newcomb requested six years with three on home detention and three on probation.
Harter recognized law enforcement personnel for their work on this case, specifically Greensburg Police Officer Devin Moore on the Unlawful Possession of a Legend Drug count; Patrick Graue with the Decatur County Sheriff’s Office on the Possession of Methamphetamine charge, and Decatur County Prosecutor’s Investigator Bill Meyerroseor’s Investigator on the Escape count.
“This community tries hard to rehabilitate and reform offenders who are new to the system, in the grips of addiction, and show dedication to improving their lives. However, there comes a time when the lifelong choices of a person add up and cannot be ignored any longer,” Harter said. “I am grateful that the court agreed with that assessment and imposed what we perceive to be a fair and just sentence.”
