Judge hands New 12-year sentence

GREENCASTLE -- A Terre Haute man received a 12-year prison sentence for his involvement in a Jan. 15, 2009 incident in which he stole electronics from an apartment in Greencastle.

Judge Matthew Headley ordered that Maxwell T. New, 21, would spend four years in prison and eight years on probation. New has credit for 600 days.

New was arrested and formally charged on Jan. 16, 2009 with Class B felony burglary and two counts of Class D felony theft.

Bond for New was initially set at $30,000 cash only, but on Feb. 25, 2009 he was released on his own recognizance, with the caveat that he would be required to report to Putnam County Adult Probation regularly, as well as to submit to drug testing.

While he was free on bond, New underwent intensive drug counseling and treatment.

A plea agreement in the case was struck, and New pled guilty on May 27 to the burglary charge in exchange for dismissal of the other two charges. Sentencing was set for June 24.

New appeared in court that day, and his attorney Darrell Felling requested a sentencing continuance and a bond revocation for his client, who he told Senior Judge Diana LaViolette had provided an "obviously diluted" urine sample for a recent drug test. Felling said a sample New provided that day was also diluted.

LaViolette revoked New's bond and ordered him to be booked into the Putnam County Jail. She reset his sentencing for July 15, and that date was continued twice.

Court documents said New stole electronics from an apartment on Larabee Street, and proceeded to try to sell them.

Items police found in New's home included a television set, pocket personal computer and an Xbox 360 gaming system.