Anthony James Geib, 35, of 3311 Oak Pointe Crossing, Warsaw, appeared in front of Kosciusko Superior Court III Judge Joe Sutton Wednesday and was sentenced to 2-1/2 years in Kosciusko County Jail for a Level 6 felony intimidation conviction, with one year suspended to formal probation.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on Feb. 5 Geib called the DCS office on Center Street and threatened to come to the office wearing a bulletproof vest and shoot everyone in the building. Those threats led to the building being evacuated by police.
In court Wednesday, Deputy Prosecutor Joseph Sobek said, “Simply put, your honor, these are public servants. They simply don’t deserve this. They do a lot for a low amount.”
Sobek acknowledged that Geib had taken responsibility for his actions, but noted Geib was out on bond for a possession of methamphetamine case when he committed this offense.
Geib’s attorney, Aaron Stoll, told Sutton that his client was only concerned about his kids, but he didn’t handle it in the correct way.
Geib told Sutton the reason why he was worried about his kids was because there were two DCS cases filed on the person who took his son, Geib said.
“I was just trying to look out for my kid. I was concerned about where my son was going. I handled it wrong. I know that. I was just trying to look out of my kid. That’s it,” Geib said.
“With children involved it’s a very passionate issue,” Sutton said. “Anyone who has kids, it’s near, dear, and you hope the most important thing in the world, and you’ve acknowledged it. In this day and age, you can’t threaten to come down and take care of business and shoot people up. They evacuated. If I had a dollar for every time I said something I regret, I’d be rich. In the heat of passion, we say things that are mean and inappropriate, and in this case you scared the bejesus out of DCS. When we have police officers being assassinated nationally, you can’t say that kind of stuff.”
Sutton told Geib if he could go back to that day, he should’ve called the police and taken them with him to handle the problem Geib was having with the other adult involved in the DCS case.
“I think you probably regret it,” Sutton said.
Geib’s sentence is set to begin March 6, after Geib finishes his sentence for possession of methamphetamine in Circuit Court, Sutton said.
Sutton asked Geib if the drug issue in Circuit Court had anything to do with his behavior in this case.
“Were you jacked up at the time you called DCS?” Sutton asked him.
“Yeah, I’m not gonna lie,” Geib said.
Part of Geib’s probation terms include he must complete and anger management course at The Bowen Center, he cannot trespass on DCS property, including parking lots, and he can only talk to DCS employees in a calm manner and only when it is required and necessary.
Sutton sentenced Geib locally, so Geib could potentially seek work release status in the spring.
“I want you to do well by your children,” Sutton told him. “Find a program, get involved, and you’ve got to be clean and sober if you want to be around your kids.”
