📍 BEDFORD, IN — A misdemeanor case that has lingered on the local docket for over four years has reached its final resolution in Lawrence Superior Court 1. In a finalized Sentencing and Commitment Order issued on June 26, 2026, Pro Tem Judge Robert R. Cline sentenced Jessie Collins following a negotiated plea agreement with the State.
Collins entered a plea of guilty to a single misdemeanor count in exchange for the complete dismissal of five other pending charges.
🔍 A History of Absconding & Warrants
The case, which originally originated on March 15, 2022, has faced extensive delays due to multiple failures to appear by the defendant:
Initial Warrant (2022): Shortly after the case opened, Collins failed to appear for his scheduled Initial Hearing on April 12, 2022, prompting the court to issue an arrest warrant. After remaining at large, his request to recall the warrant was denied in July 2025, and he was finally arrested and served with the warrant on August 26, 2025.
Second Warrant (2025): After posting a $1,000.00 cash bond and demanding a jury trial in September 2025, Collins failed to appear a second time for a scheduled Pretrial Conference on November 24, 2025. A second warrant was issued, which remained outstanding until he was captured or surrendered on June 22, 2026.
⚖️ The Final Judgment & Sentence Breakdown
Following a Change of Plea hearing on June 24, 2026, the court processed the final disposition:
The Conviction: Collins pled guilty to Resisting Law Enforcement, a Class A Misdemeanor.
The Dismissals: The State officially dismissed all remaining counts, which originally included Unauthorized Entry of a Motor Vehicle (Class B Misdemeanor), Battery (Class B Misdemeanor), Disorderly Conduct (Class B Misdemeanor), Public Intoxication (Class B Misdemeanor), and Criminal Mischief (Class B Misdemeanor).
The Sentence: Judge Cline ordered Collins committed to the Lawrence County Jail for a period of 26 days.
Credit for Time Served: Collins was granted credit for 13 actual days already served in confinement, marking his sentence as fully executed time served.
📋 Financial Obligations & Bond Release
With the sentence executed, the financial components of the judgment are as follows:
Assessed Fees: Total statutory costs include $189.00 in Court Costs, a $50.00 Administrative Bond Fee, and a $50.00 Lawrence County Public Defender Fee.
Bond Application: The court directed the Clerk of Lawrence County to deduct all assessed fees and fines directly from the $1,000.00 cash bond posted by Collins.
Release of Funds: On June 29, 2026, pursuant to the court's order and Indiana code, the remaining balance of the cash bond was officially released by the Clerk's office.
