WARSAW — Brandi Seeley, North Manchester, was sentenced this morning, Sept. 25, for possession of chemical agents or precursors and attempting to manufacture a controlled substance, a level 6 felony.
On Saturday, July 29, an employee from the Warsaw Dollar General called in a theft. He witnessed two females enter the store and place items into a purse. The two females then exited the store without attempting to pay for the stolen items. The employee was able to advise officers that the females left in a black vehicle.
An officer with the Warsaw Police Department located the females driving the vehicle near Center Street. The driver failed to use a turn signal and the officer performed a traffic stop on the vehicle.
Inside a purse in the vehicle, police found new socks, a notebook, coloring book, nail polishes and more unopened merchandise as well as a plastic bag containing a green bottle filled with ammonium nitrate and an active shaker bottle. Other items located inside the vehicle included a syringe and an empty cold pack. These items are commonly used together to manufacture meth.
Seeley was arrested with Kathy Buckheit of Warsaw for possession of methamphetamine, possession of a syringe, possession of a chemical reagent and theft.
Seeley pleaded her case to Judge Reed stating that she “had hit rock bottom and realized that drugs (took) everything” from her. She continued by saying she wanted to stay sober so she could be a better daughter and mother.
Her attorney Matthew J. Buehler echoed her pleas by pointing out, “This is (Seeley’s) first felony and she has children who are still minors she hopes to care for while serving her sentence.” Buehler asked the court to look to expedite the sentencing as fast as possible for those minors and consider allowing Seeley to serve on work release should she be accepted.
Reed emphasized to Seeley that overcoming a drug addiction is “not easy,” but he granted her request for work release should she “qualify and remain qualified.” Until then, Seeley will serve a year in Kosciusko County jail for possession of methamphetamine as well as a year in Kosciusko County jail for possession of chemical reagent. Both sentences will be served consecutively while receiving 58 days credited for already serving.
Other charges against Seeley were dropped.