Week in Review – Federal Court

SOUTH BEND, IN—The United States Attorney’s Office announced:

David Resnick, 31, of Fort Pierce, Florida, and formerly of Elkhart, Indiana, was charged in an indictment with one count of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor and one count of transportation of child pornography from July 2008 to August 2008. The indictment alleges that Resnick crossed a state line with intent to engage in a sexual act with a person who had not attained the age of 12 years, that is, a 9-year-old boy.

These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jill Koster.

If members of the public have information regarding Resnick, they should call the Merrillville FBI office at 219-769-3719.

Franklin Hibshman, Jr., 22, of Elkhart, Indiana, was sentenced by Judge Robert Miller, Jr. to 12 months and one day of imprisonment and two years of supervised release after pleading guilty to count one of an indictment charging him with unlawful transport of firearms in the case U.S. v Arthur el al. This case was the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Schaffer.

Andreo Harris, 25, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by Judge Robert Miller, Jr. to 24 months’ imprisonment and two years of supervised release after pleading guilty to count two of an indictment charging him with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. This case was the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Donald Schmid.

Renato Debartolo, 44, of New Carlisle, Indiana, pled guilty before Judge Robert Miller, Jr. to count two of an indictment charging him with manufacturing marijuana. Sentencing has been set for 8/11/11. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Schaffer.

The United States Attorney’s Office emphasized that an indictment is merely an allegation and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

The specific sentence in each case to be imposed upon conviction will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.