CROWN POINT

Gary man gets 6 years work release for coke sale

A Gary man who sold cocaine to an informant in April 2006 was sentenced Tuesday to six years in a jail work-release program.

Judge Diane Ross Boswell sentenced Larry Humphrey, 25, to work release and 10 hours community service, according to a release from the Lake County prosecutor's office. She also ordered Humphrey to get his GED. She also ordered the destruction of the .40-caliber Glock handgun Humphrey carried when he was arrested, according to the release.

Humphrey pleaded guilty May 18 to dealing cocaine.

CROWN POINT

Chicago man convicted of selling cocaine

A jury took 11 minutes to convict a Chicago man who failed to appear Tuesday at his trial for cocaine selling.

Shedrick Duckett, 32, faces as many as 20 years in prison, according to a release from the Lake County prosecutor's office. He is slated for sentencing July 26.

Duckett sold cocaine to an informant on Feb. 8, 2006, in Hammond, according to the prosecutor's office.

CROWN POINT

Indiana man gets 20 years for KFC robbery

Lake Criminal Court Judge Thomas P. Stefaniak Jr. sentenced a Kingsbury man to 20 years in prison Friday for robbing three Hammond businesses with a BB gun, according to a news release from the prosecutor's office.

George W. Roberts, 50, pleaded guilty Feb. 16 to robbing the KFC on Calumet Avenue Oct. 18, 2003, Porter's Apparel on Hohman Avenue on Oct. 28, 2003, and Midtown Video on Hohman Avenue on Nov. 1, 2003.

CROWN POINT

Portage man charged with arson at ex's home

Prosecutors charged a Portage man with arson and stalking after police said he set fire to his ex-fiancee's Hammond house Wednesday.

Donald Eriks, 45, faces as many as 28 years in prison if convicted.

Court records show Eriks' fiancee told police she broke up with him in late 2006 and he started harassing her at work. The day her house caught fire, Eriks left two recorded messages saying he would "kill her and nobody would be able to protect her," the probable cause affidavit states.

The house fire was started in three separate locations -- the living room, basement and a bedroom, according to the affidavit. When interviewed by Hammond police, Eriks said: "I'm already going to jail, I set her house on fire and I burnt up all her papers," the affidavit states.

CROWN POINT

Merrillville doctor charged with theft, fraud

Prosecutors charged Dr. Dennis Streeter with theft and check fraud after Lasco Development reported it lent him $350,000 in July 2003 that Streeter has failed to pay back.

Streeter, 63, of Beverly Shores, faces a maximum prison sentence of eight years if convicted.

Court records show Streeter borrowed the money promising to repay the loan within two weeks. Streeter wrote a check for the entire amount on a business account but the check bounced, reports state. Despite numerous tries, as of May 8, Streeter had not repaid Lasco, the probable cause affidavit states.

CROWN POINT

Hammond woman charged with stalking

Prosecutors charged Mildred Johnson with stalking and residential entry for violating a protective order, according to court documents.

Johnson, 51, of Hammond, faces a maximum prison sentence of 11 years if convicted.

The owner of Kraz Construction, 9434 Indianapolis Blvd., Highland, took out a protective order requiring Johnson to stay at least 100 yards away from him or the business, records show.

On June 14, the owner saw Johnson parked next to his building within 75 feet of the business doors, records state.

An employee of the business told police that just before Johnson showed up at Kraz Construction, she came to her house and started putting food in her refrigerator. Johnson said her electricity was shut off and needed to store her food. The employee insisted Johnson leave, the report states.