FORMER GARY MAN AVOIDS PRISON FOR THREATENING JUDGE
A former Gary man avoided prison Thursday for threatening Lake County Judge Gina Jones.
Devontae Harris, 28, pleaded guilty in April to intimidation, a Level 5 felony.
Judge Samuel Cappas sentenced him under the plea deal to two years in Lake County Community Corrections and one year on probation.
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Jones rejected his plea deal on July 2, 2024, for being too lenient for stalking and shooting a woman at least four times in November 2022, which sparked a tirade against the judge, court documents allege.
For the outburst, he was originally charged with three counts of intimidation, a Level 5 felony.
When Jones announced that she was rejecting the plea, she said, “I’m going to allow you to have your little anger moment and temper tantrum right now.”
“(Expletive), you think you know about (stuff), I done killed (people),” Harris said, according to the court transcript. “I got bodies under my belt, (expletive). Go solve them.”
Special Prosecutor Joseph Morrison was appointed. Defense lawyer Nick Barnes represented Harris.
In a separate case, Harris was charged in February with prisoner possessing a deadly weapon, a Level 4 felony. The case is pending. Prosecutors signaled they could file to add a habitual offender enhancement at a later date.
Deputy Prosecutor Chris Bruno said in court they have offered Harris a potential plea deal in the jail case.
LANSING MAN COULD GET 12 YEARS FOR STABBING DEATH
A Lansing man could get up to 12 years in prison after admitting he fatally stabbed his roommate as they were “tusseling,” documents show.
Christopher Jordan, 38, pleaded guilty Wednesday to voluntary manslaughter, a Level 2 felony.
In exchange for the plea, prosecutors pledged to not add a habitual offender enhancement, which could have added another 5-to-20 years to his sentence.
A judge would have to review and accept the plea deal. A sentencing hearing is Aug. 21.
Gary Police responded Feb. 1, 2025 to an apartment on the 2400 block of Waverly Drive where they found victim John Walker-Spencer, 33, lying in the living room, stabbed in the abdomen. He was pronounced dead at Methodist Hospital Northlake in Gary.
SIX INDICTED IN RETAIL CREDIT CARD FRAUD RING
Six people are facing federal charges in an alleged $200,000 multi-state retail credit card fraud ring.
A grand jury indicted Maurice Cullum, Terrence Williams, Iyesha Johnson, Tatiana Cullum, Dionna Moss and Charmaine Woodfork on June 17 in the U.S. District Court in Hammond with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud affecting a financial institution.
Maurice Cullum and Williams were also indicted for aggravated identity theft.
Federal prosecutors suspect more people may have been involved.
From January to June, they allege the group used stolen personal information to open rewards credit cards at “Retailer A” — a national Massachusetts-based “apparel and home goods” store chain.
They racked up hundreds of dollars worth of purchases at a time, then returned merchandise and got the refunds back to legitimate bank accounts or partly in cash. They left balances racked up on the credit cards, filings allege.
This happened at stores in Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana, including locations in Valparaiso and Schererville, court records state.
Prosecutors estimated the group collected “over $200,000” in returns, filings show.
MAN FACES DEPORTATION AFTER MOTEL ARREST
A Mexican man faces deportation after a Hammond motel arrest.
Rodolfo Perez, 40, pleaded guilty to felony reentry of a removed alien with a prior felony conviction, according to a release.
U.S. District Judge Philip Simon sentenced him to 21 months and one year on supervised release.
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Court filings allege Hammond Police arrested him on May 2, 2025 at a Motel 6 after he was running outside naked.
He ran into a room and tried to wedge it shut. Officers found a “white powdery substance” on the dresser and a “white rock-like substance” in a baggie on the bed, documents state.
Post-Tribune archives contributed.