Elkhart man admits to drug, handgun possession
GOSHEN — An Elkhart man received a total sentence of 13½ years after admitting to possessing meth and a handgun when he was arrested in November.
Steven Clark, 40, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine as a Level 3 felony Thursday in Elkhart County Circuit Court. He also admitted to charges of unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, a Level 4 felony, and obstruction of justice and resisting law enforcement as Level 6 felonies.
He admitted in court that he had 39 grams of methamphetamine in his possession when police arrested him on Nov. 30, 2023, and that he tried to flush some drugs down the toilet after police announced themselves at his door. He admitted that he had a handgun at the time despite being barred from possessing one due to a past felony conviction.
Clark entered his plea ahead of a jury trial set for Feb. 17. The agreement sets a total sentence of 12 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections for counts one through three together, and 18 months, all suspended to probation, for count four.
The four charges represent potential prison time of up to 33 years altogether.
Additional counts including possession of marijuana as a Level 6 felony and driving while suspended as a misdemeanor will be dismissed.
Judge Michael Christofeno accepted Clark’s plea and set sentencing for Oct. 31.
Clark was arrested after police received a tip that a man wanted on a warrant was in a room at a Cassopolis Street hotel at around 1:12 a.m. on Nov. 30. An arrest warrant had been issued a month earlier for an alleged probation violation in a 2022 conviction for strangulation as a Level 6 felony and misdemeanor counts of battery and marijuana possession.
Police say they recognized Clark through the window and announced themselves with a knock at the door. He allegedly said he needed to go to the bathroom first and could be seen attempting to flush drugs, according to police.
Officers forced open the door and arrested him.
In addition to 1.05 pounds of marijuana in the room, police say, they also found a revolver and a baggie of meth. Another baggie containing small crystalline particles also was found in the toilet bowl, according to police.
