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A Warsaw man will serve three years in prison after a shooting incident in downtown Warsaw.
Christopher Taylor Tackett, 29, of 116 N. CR 300E, Warsaw, was charged with criminal recklessness with a firearm, a level 5 felony; and intimidation, a level 6 felony. Four additional criminal charges were all dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
Tackett was sentenced in Kosciusko Superior Court I on Thursday, Sept. 10.
For criminal recklessness, Kosciusko Superior Court I Judge Karin McGrath sentenced Tackett to five years in the Indiana Department of Correction, with three years executed and two years suspended on probation. He also received two years on probation for his intimidation charge. Both sentences will be served back-to-back to each other as well as back-to-back to two additional criminal cases he was sentenced on in Kosciusko Superior Court III on Tuesday, Sept. 8.
In total, for the Superior I cases, Tackett received a seven-year DOC sentence, with three years executed and four years suspended on probation. Two no-contact orders also remain in effect, with Tackett ordered not to have any contact with a woman he threatened and Drake A. Meadows, who was involved in the criminal recklessness case and is also facing a felony charge in that matter.
Tackett is also trespassed from Forte Residential in downtown Warsaw, where the criminal recklessness incident occurred. He must further pay restitution as follows: $500 to a person whose vehicle was damaged in the incident; $5,800 to Forte Residential for damage caused to their building; and $3,003.70 to Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance Company.
McGrath recommended Tackett for participation in Recovery While Incarcerated during his prison sentence.
At sentencing, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Joseph Sobek requested Tackett receive a five-year sentence, with three years executed, due to Tackett's criminal history. Defense attorney Austin Rovenstine said Tackett's actions were "reckless and dangerous, and I'm grateful no one died." He told the court Tackett relapsed into using drugs following a personal tragedy and he "needs to get serious tools for how to deal with those incidents, because life is full of tragedies."
"I'm so relieved this didn't end in tragedy," said McGrath. "I hope it's impressed on you how serious this was."
With the Superior III cases, Rovenstine said Tackett received a one-year DOC sentence, with eight months executed, for criminal mischief; and a three-year DOC sentence, with one year and four months executed, for an intimidation case.
Affidavits Of Probable Cause
On March 11, Kosciusko County dispatch advised deputies with the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office that Tackett had shown up at a woman's residence and damaged her vehicle.
Officers were able to confirm all four of her vehicle's tires were deflated from puncture marks, along with the front and rear windshields being shattered.
On April 6, Kosciusko County dispatch reported a fight in progress at a business in Warsaw. Officers with the Warsaw Police Department spoke with a man, who said Tackett grabbed a metal baseball bat and approached him while swinging the bat.
On June 9, Warsaw police officers received reports about ammunition casings being located near Market and Lake streets. Officers recovered eight spent ammunition casings and one unspent bullet in the area.
According to court documents, Forte Residential sustained broken glass and damaged drywall as a result of the firearm rounds. Two vehicles in the area also sustained damage.
Upon further investigation, officers determined Meadows and Tackett had "communicated aggressively" via social media prior to the shooting incident. Surveillance footage in the area showed Tackett sitting on a vehicle's windowsill when he shot over the top of the vehicle while Meadows was driving.
Meadows is currently facing a level 3 armed robbery charge in this case, as it's alleged he hit Tackett in the head and stole a chain necklace from him. He has a change of plea hearing at 9 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 17.
On June 12, a Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office deputy spoke with a woman regarding threatening messages she received from Tackett on social media. The woman showed the messages to police and said she was afraid Tackett would carry out his threats.
