A Warsaw man was sentenced to one and a half years suspended and on probation after Circuit Court Judge Michael W. Reed accepted a plea agreement filed Jan. 27.
Rogelio Rico, 36, Parker Street, Warsaw, withdrew his not guilty plea and entered a guilty plea for two counts of identity deception, a class D felony. Two counts of forgery were dismissed.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s office, on May 22, 2013, a Warsaw Police Department officer performed a traffic stop and spoke with the driver. The driver said his name was Jose Perez and that he was born Jan. 27, 1973. The officer found that his driver’s license was suspended and arrested him.
The officer conducted a check in the vehicle and found a U.S. treasury check with the name Rogelio Rico with the same address, the affidavit states. The driver admitted his name was Rogelio Rico and that he lied to the officer. He said he is in the country illegally and does not have a Social Security number.
After he was taken to jail, authorities realized that Rico had been booked May 26, 2012 and again Dec. 16, 2012 using the name and date of birth of Jose Perez. Officers also found he was booked Aug. 29, 2008, using the name Anthony Paul Gomez. Police obtained all of the records and compared photographs and finger prints and found they were all the same, the affidavit states.
Reed warned that if Rico violates his probation, then he will serve his sentence in the Indiana Department of Corrections.
Rico is also responsible as part of the judgment to pay approximately $3,000 in fees for jury arrangements and an interpreter throughout this case.
(Story By The Times Union)
