Published: May 09, 2008 11:54 am         

Elkhart teenager sentenced to 16 years in state prison

An Elkhart teenager who entered four guilty pleas to armed robberies received a 16-year prison sentence Thursday.

Dairik Brand, 18, who was involved in four armed robberies in 2007, admitted his role in the crimes earlier in Elkhart County Circuit Court. The plea bargain he entered sets a cap of 16 years of time in prison.

In the sentencing hearing Thursday in the Goshen court, deputy prosecutor David Francisco said this plea bargain is similar to the one approved for Brand’s co-defendant and calls for four years of probation.

“I expect him to be squeaky clean” while serving on probation, the prosecutor said.

The defendant told Judge Terry Shewmaker that he has been locked up for 13 months, has missed the first 10 months of his daughter’s life and has learned his lesson.

“You’ll never see me in your courtroom again,” Brand said. He admitted when questioned by the judge that he committed the robberies to get money for drugs and “to be cool.”

Judge Shewmaker imposed 10-year sentences in each of the four convictions, but ordered some time to run consecutive and suspended two years of each term. He noted credit for 410 days spent in the county jail.

In other action, James Mosley, 62, Elkhart, appeared and entered guilty pleas to dealing cocaine, a Class B felony, and possession of a handgun after a felony conviction, a Class C felony. His plea agreement sets a cap on prison sentence at 12 years.

Judge Shewmaker set sentencing for June 5.

Fred D. Johnson, 58, Elkhart, appeared and entered a guilty plea to possession of cocaine, a Class C felony. He said he bought an “eight ball” of cocaine June 1, 2007, and used some of the drug. Sentencing is set for July 3.