KNOX – A former Starke County Sheriff’s deputy, Don Ferguson, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a single misdemeanor charge, concluding a five-year legal process that began with an investigation into missing evidence from the sheriff’s department.
The case originated in January 2020 when Indiana State Police launched an investigation into the misappropriation of drugs and cash from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department evidence room. This led to a grand jury indictment in September 2022, charging Ferguson with eight counts, including four counts of official misconduct, theft of a firearm, and other misdemeanor charges.
The case proceeded through the court system, culminating in a jury trial in August 2025. The jury found Ferguson not guilty on four of the eight charges, including two counts of Official Misconduct, Theft of a Firearm, and one misdemeanor theft charge. The jury was hung on the remaining four counts.
On September 23, 2025, Ferguson pleaded guilty to a Class B misdemeanor for filing a false police report. In exchange, the remaining charges were dismissed. He was sentenced to 60 days in the Starke County Jail, to be served immediately, followed by four months of probation.
The case was presided over by a special judge, Crystal Kocher of Pulaski County, and prosecuted by a special prosecutor, Stanley Levco from Evansville.
