PLYMOUTH — The Marshall County Prosecutor’s Office announced the completion of the prosecution of Plymouth resident

Daniel Kneifel today. Kneifel was charged with child molestation in 2023 and has now been convicted and sentenced.
The investigation began in July of 2022 when the Department of Child Services received a report of sexual abuse against a 13-year-old child committed by Kneifel. The criminal investigation was handled by Captain Jeff Snyder of the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department. The child was interviewed, as was Kneifel, who denied all of the allegations. Initially, no charges were filed due to insufficient evidence to proceed at that time.
In January of 2023, however, a second report was made with the Department of Child Services, alleging continued sexual contact between the 13-year-old and Kneifel. Captain Snyder again investigated the case, this time having been provided additional evidence that corroborated the allegations. The child was interviewed again, as was Kneifel. Kneifel initially denied all of the allegations, but later claimed the only contact was a kiss where the child had been the aggressor. He stated the child kissed him on his front porch, which was recorded on his Ring doorbell camera, and Kneifel admitted that he had deleted the footage.
Attempts were made by law enforcement to recover the deleted footage, but ultimately it was never able to be produced. Charges were filed in August of 2023, with probable cause being found and a bond set at $50,000 cash. Bond was posted September 12, 2023, and Kneifel remained at liberty while charges were pending.
A jury trial commenced in Marshall Superior Court 3 on April 1, 2026. The State was represented by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Elizabeth Boehm, and Daniel Kneifel was represented by Michael Tuszynski. After a 2-day jury trial and approximately four hours of deliberation, the 12-person jury delivered a guilty verdict on Count 1: Child Molesting, Level 1 Felony and Count 3: Child Molesting, Level 4 Felony. The jury found on Count 2: Child Molesting, Level 1 Felony. Kneifel was remanded into the custody of the Marshall County Sheriff at that time.
Sentencing was held on Friday, May 22, 2026, before the Honorable Judge Matthew Sarber. After hearing statements from the child, the child’s mother, the Defendant’s wife, and the Defendant’s best friend, the Court heard recommendations from each side as to what sentence should be imposed. The Court weighed the mitigating and aggravating factors and ultimately ordered that the sentences on Count 1 and Count 3 be served consecutively. The total sentence is 40 years, with 38 to be served in the Indiana Department of Correction, 2 years suspended, and 1 year to be served on formal probation with sex offender terms and conditions imposed. Kneifel will be ordered to participate in Sex Offender Management and Monitoring as a condition of the sentence.
The Prosecutor’s Office would like to thank Captain Snyder for his tireless efforts investigating this case and remind the public that if you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, call the Indiana Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 1-800-800-5556. You may report abuse and neglect anonymously.

PLYMOUTH — The Marshall County Historical Society is announcing the third in its America’s 250 Brown Bag Lunch and

Lecture series, featuring presentations on the Revolutionary War era. The next Brown Bag event is on Friday, June 12, from Noon – 1:00 p.m. Join Judge Matthew Sarber for an engaging look at the U.S. Constitution — its founding ideas, the influence of the Federalist Papers, and the framework that shaped our government.
Judge Sarber will also connect these principles to today’s world, leading what is anticipated to be a thought-provoking discussion and Q&A inspired by current events.
The event will be held at the Marshall County Historical Society & Museum, 123 N. Michigan St., Plymouth. Pack a lunch and learn with us. For more information, please call 574-936-2306.

PLYMOUTH — On May 23, 2026, at approximately 12:15 AM, Plymouth Police units were dispatched by Marshall County

911 to the intersection of Pierce and Gilmore Streets for a fight reportedly involving approximately twenty people.
While en route, dispatch advised that there were guns and pipes involved and that a vehicle was getting its windows smashed out. Dispatch reported that there were up to seven individuals with handguns. Upon arrival, officers located several individuals who had been involved in the altercation, along with unspent rounds in the roadway. In speaking with witnesses and victims, it was alleged by two individuals that they had been pistol-whipped and had a handgun put to the back of their head. They advised that some of the suspects ran into the residence at 200 Pierce St.
Officers attempted to make contact with the individuals inside the residence, with no response. A search warrant was obtained, and the Indiana State Police Emergency Response Team was contacted to assist in serving the warrant. It was alleged that there were up to 10 individuals in the residence along with an unknown number of weapons. While waiting for the ERT team, the front door opened, and one subject exited while two individuals were observed running to the back of the residence.
Officers then entered the residence and located five individuals in a bedroom in the rear of the residence. The individuals would not comply with the officer’s commands, and a Marshall Sheriff’s Dept K-9 was deployed. Two individuals who resisted were bitten by the K-9. All five individuals were then detained and later taken into custody. Several handguns were also located inside the residence.
Four individuals were initially arrested and transported to the St Joseph Hospital ER for treatment and jail clearance. Some of the initial charges include Intimidation with a Deadly Weapon, Battery, Public Intoxication, Minor Consuming, Obstruction of Justice, Criminal Mischief, and Resisting Law Enforcement.
The Plymouth Police Department will continue to investigate the incident to determine if any further charges need to be filed by the Prosecutor’s Office. Further charges may occur after the investigation is complete and forwarded to the Marshall County Prosecutors’ Office for review.
Those initially arrested on varying charges are:
•Austin C Price, 19, Plymouth, IN
•Elijah K Waggoner, 21 Plymouth, IN
•Kiley E Pitts, 21 Plymouth, IN
•Amro Y Yasin, 20 Plymouth, IN

Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

PLYMOUTH — On May 22, 2026, at 1 p.m., Plymouth Police were called to the parking lot at 2125 N Oak Rd for a report that

two children, ages 2 and 9, were left unattended in a car while the parent was in a meeting.
While left unattended, the 2yr old child gained access to a loaded firearm and fired one round, striking the windshield.
There were no injuries or other property damage. Aaron Lee, 34, of Crawfordsville, was taken into custody and preliminarily charged with Neglect of a Dependant Level 6 Felony.

Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

ARGOS — On May 20, 2026, at 5:33 PM, Marshall County Sheriff’s Department Deputies and Argos PD responded to the area

of the 17,​000 block of Kenilworth Road for the report of a man pointing a firearm at his wife and son.
Upon arrival,​ deputies and Argos PD made contact with the man,​ later identified as 54-year-old Shawn Barenie.
Barenie was transported to the Marshall County Jail and booked for Intimidation With A Deadly Weapon and Pointing A Firearm.

Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

PLYMOUTH –

That was the exchange between Commissioner Adam Faulstich and County Attorney Sean Surrisi at the Marshall County Commissioners meeting on Monday.
Surrisi’s response as to why it wouldn’t be advisable centered on possible constitutional challenges that could be brought against the county, pointing to a history of acceptance of those coming to the United States for its tolerance of the right to worship and objections from residents that may not espouse the Christian faith.

PLYMOUTH — On May 19,​ 2026, at approximately 9:00 AM, Marshall County Sheriff’s Department Deputies responded to a

residence in the 3000 block of Olive Road in reference to a man threatening Marshall County Highway Department employees with a rifle.
Upon arrival,​ deputies made contact with the suspect,​ later identified as 51-year-old Jonathan Ashby. During the investigation,​ a search warrant was executed at the residence. Firearms and suspected drugs were located.
Ashby was transported to the Marshall County Jail and booked for Intimidation With A Deadly Weapon,​ Possession of Marijuana,​ and Possession of Paraphernalia.

Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

PLYMOUTH — The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety and Common Council will meet on Tuesday, May 26, 2026,

starting with the Board of Works at 6 p.m.
On that agenda are reports from the various city department heads and a request for street closures for downtown events.
The Common Council will begin its meeting immediately following the Board of Works. On that agenda are public hearings for the Historic Fire Station Renovation Project and an application to vacate for Habitat for Humanity.
Later in the meeting, an ordinance regarding permit and application fees for the city, as well as a resolution supporting a grant application for the restoration of the Historic Firehouse, will be heard.
Both meetings will be held in the Council chambers on the second floor of the City Building. Those attending should enter by the Garro Street entrance. The meeting will be live-streamed on YouTube @CityofPlymouth.
If you need special accommodation to attend the meeting, please contact the ADA Coordinator at 574-936-2948.

PLYMOUTH — On Monday, May 18, 2026, officers with the Marshall County Drug Task Force executed a search warrant in

the 400 block of Klinger Street in Plymouth, next to Jefferson Elementary School.
During the investigation, officers recovered suspected methamphetamine, marijuana, paraphernalia, and seized several firearms from the residence. Three individuals were arrested and transported to the Marshall County Jail.
Thomas Holloway, 70, of Plymouth, Rita Waltz, 61, of Plymouth, and Daniel Royster, 48, of Kokomo were charged with Possession of Methamphetamine Level 5 Felony, Maintaining a Common Nuisance Level 6 Felony, and Possession of Marijuana and given $10,000 cash

bonds.
Rita Waltz also had an active warrant out of Fulton County for Dealing in Methamphetamine, Level 4 Felony.
MCDTF was assisted by the Plymouth Police, Marshall County Police, and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department.
The Marshall County Drug Task Force would like to thank the Plymouth Police Department’s School Resource Officers and Plymouth Community School Corporation for their swift response to ensure the safety of all

children and staff was maintained at Jefferson Elementary while the search warrant was executed.

Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

PLYMOUTH — The Plymouth Redevelopment Commission will consider financial support for a new Career and Technical

Education (CTE) program in aircraft maintenance at the Plymouth airport.
The program would be part of the current Alpha Flight School that provides CTE courses in aviation to local high school students.
City Attorney Jeff Houin told the Commission that current studies being conducted by the city regarding the future of the airport show the new program would fit in those plans.

Jodi Marone and Deb Venti, representing Alpha Flight’s new venture, told the Commission that they had already received a grant of $50,000 from the Marshall County Community Foundation and requested support from Redevelopment TIF funds for another $50,000 that would fund the equipment needs for the first two years.
Marone told the board that 30 students had already signed up to begin the program in its first session, which would begin in the fall of 2026. The plan would be to increase to 90 students in 2027 and 120 in the following fall.
Houin said the Commission could only provide equipment funding, no operational costs, and the support funds would be drawn from TIF 3.
Members of the Commission were supportive of the venture and will look at the proposal in more detail for discussion at their June 16 meeting.

Graduation is upon us for 2026, and here are the dates and times for local Commencement ceremonies, by county:

Marshall County

• Argos High School: Friday, May 29th @7pm
• Bremen High School: Friday, May 22nd @7pm
• Culver Academies: Commencement events all day Friday, May 29th, and Saturday, May 30th. Graduation and Final Formation for Class of 2026 events all day on Sunday, May 31st.
• Culver High School: Friday, May 29th @7pm
• Plymouth High School: Sunday, May 31st @2pm Eastern Time, at Rock Pile football stadium. Rain date of Tuesday, June 2nd at 7 pm
• Triton High School: Sunday, May 31st @2pm Eastern Time, in the High School gymnasium
  Pulaski County
• West Central School Corporation: Sunday, May 24th @2pm Eastern Time, at the High School gymnasium
• Winamac Community High School: Sunday, May 31st at 2 pm Eastern Time
  Starke County
• Knox Community High School: Friday, June 5th @7pm Central Time
• North Judson High School: Sunday, May 31st @2pm Central Time, at the football field
• Oregon-Davis High School: Sunday, May 31st @1pm Central Time

PLYMOUTH — The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department obtained information from the St. Joseph County Special Victims

Unit, along with the Division of Child Services, that a 14-year-old child had allegedly been inappropriately touched by the suspect, Toby Mangus, 45, of Bremen.
The investigation started with sharing information between the St. Joseph County Special Victims Unit,​ Division of Child Services, and the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department. Lt. Detective Les McFarland began taking statements from people involved with the case.
On Tuesday,​ May 19,​ 2026,​ Mangus was arrested,​ transported, and booked into the Marshall County Jail for Sexual Battery,​ Level 6 Felony, and Sexual Misconduct with a Minor,​ Level 6 Felony.

Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

PLYMOUTH — On May 16, 2026, at approximately 1:10 am, Plymouth Police Officers checked on a vehicle parked at River

Park Square after the park’s hours of operation.
Upon checking the vehicle, officers located 3 individuals asleep inside of the vehicle; 21 year old Madisyn Brody, of Warsaw, 20 year old Andrew Quinn, of Plymouth, and 19 year old Caitlyn Smith of Knox.
Officers were also able to smell a strong odor of marijuana emitting from inside the vehicle. After waking the subjects up and conducting an investigation, marijuana, sativa, and THC vape products were discovered inside the vehicle.
All 3 individuals were taken into custody and transported to Marshall County Jail, where they were booked and lodged for Possession of Marijuana.

Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

PLYMOUTH – Indiana Department of Transportation contractor LaPorte Construction Company will conduct bridge work on

U.S. 30 between Oak Road and Plymouth-Goshen Road beginning on or after Tuesday, May 26.
During construction, U.S. 30 will be reduced to one lane in each direction. Phase one will have westbound U.S. 30 closed for construction, and the eastbound lanes will be converted to two-way traffic. The ramp from State Road 17 to U.S. 30 westbound will be closed, and the detour will follow U.S. 30 eastbound to the U.S. 31 interchange to turn around.
Phase one will be ongoing through late August. Phase two is expected to begin in mid-September for the eastbound lanes, with construction activities continuing through late November. Bridge deck overlays will be conducted at Western Ave and Baker Ditch.
As part of this project, Western Ave is closed between Skylane Dr and Pilgrim Ln under U.S. 30 for bridge beam repairs through mid-June.
INDOT encourages drivers to allow extra time when traveling through this area and follow traffic directions carefully. Motorists should slow down, exercise caution, and drive distraction-free through all work zones.

PLYMOUTH — The City of Plymouth has opened a community survey regarding the future of the historic Fire Station

building, and we encourage the community to participate and share their thoughts.
Heartland undergoes renovation.
It’s a good time to stop in and experience the space for yourself during Heartland Artist Gallery’s annual Small Wonders exhibit, featuring nearly 200 works by artists from across northern Indiana and beyond.
The historic Fire Station will also serve as the home of our upcoming Heartland America 250 exhibition, America the Beautiful.
You can take the survey by hitting this link

https://mossadams.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7NTnrQXwt4CHIOi?fbclid=IwZnRzaAR1QudleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeU3lzq8sb1uiejbmxqH1u3RxGpqyX8vZjlUmVLEpa4P_OQneZJrq4Yv3XDho_aem_fl_XVlCT5TLwAIcPkEDT1Q

PLYMOUTH – Marshall County’s road program for the 2026 season is well underway, and during the regular report by

Highway Superintendent Jason Peters to the Marshall County Commissioners, he made the suggestion of going a little further with reclaimation work for the year.

Peters said that some of the roads in question are in “pretty bad shape” and will need a base before resurfacing in the coming year, and said it would “get us ahead of the game.”
Peters told the Commissioners the roads would take a considerable amount of material to patch. He estimated that doing the patchwork for those specific roads could cost between $13,000 to $25,000.

The Commissioners supported the idea and will continue the discussion in their next meeting.

PLYMOUTH — On Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 3:37 pm, Marshall County Dispatch broadcast a report of a possibly intoxicated

male who had just left David’s Courage at 10924 Lincoln Highway.
The vehicle was last seen traveling northbound on King Rd. Marshall County Officers located the vehicle and the driver.
During the investigation,​ it was discovered that the driver,​ Benjamin Black Ireland,​ 44, was exhibiting signs of alcohol intoxication. Ireland was transported to the Marshall County Jail for operating a motor vehicle with a BAC of .15% or more.

Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Average gasoline prices in Indiana have fallen 24.4 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $4.12/g today, according to

GasBuddy’s survey of 3,271 stations in Indiana. Prices in Indiana are 34.6 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 94.7 cents per gallon higher than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has decreased 0.5 cents compared to a week ago and stands at $5.618 per gallon.
The lowest reported prices in communities around the area:
Pulaski County
Winamac — $4.39
Francesville — $4.29
Medaryville — $4.29
Starke County
Knox — $4.29
North Judson — $4.39
Grovertown — $4.09
LaPorte County
LaCrosse — $4.19
LaPorte — $3.92
Michigan City — $3.91
Wanatah — $3.99
Rolling Prairie $4.19
Westville — $4.04
New Carlisle — $4.49
North Liberty $3.99
Walkerton — $3.98
Marshall County
Argos — $4.39
Bourbon — $4.09
Bremen — $4.19
Culver — $4.39
LaPaz — $4.05
Plymouth — $3.97
According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Indiana was priced at $3.45/g yesterday while the most expensive was $5.09/g, a difference of $1.64/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $3.45/g while the highest was $5.09/g, a difference of $1.64/g.
The national average price of gasoline has fallen 1 cent per gallon in the last week, averaging $4.47/g today.
“The national average price of gasoline spent much of last week drifting lower after jumping early in the week as oil prices softened on hopes that diplomatic progress between the U.S. and Iran could help ease supply concerns,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “However, that optimism faded after President Trump’s meeting with China’s Xi Jinping failed to produce a breakthrough on Iran, while renewed warnings toward Tehran have helped push oil prices higher again. With global oil inventories continuing to trend toward historically tight levels, markets remain extremely sensitive to geopolitical developments and potential supply disruptions. As a result, gasoline and diesel prices are likely to remain volatile, and with Memorial Day approaching, any sustained increase in oil prices could begin pushing retail fuel prices higher again in the weeks ahead.”
GasBuddy is North America’s trusted fuel savings platform, helping consumers fuel up for less for over 25 years at GasBuddy.com

INDIANAPOLIS — This week is National Emergency Medical Service Week, and agencies and officials across the state are

recognizing EMS professionals.
Indiana Governor Mike Braun has formally proclaimed May 17th through 23rd as EMS Week in Indiana, stating, “EMS is the front line of our health care system.”
This year’s theme is Improving Outcomes, Together, and is intended to emphasize the coordination and collaboration that is required for improved patient outcomes.
Indiana has more than 25,000 certified emergency medical responders, emergency medical technicians, advanced emergency medical technicians, paramedics, dispatchers, and support staff statewide.
To find out more about National EMS Week, including stories from EMS professionals, events, and local blood drives, you can visit emsweek.org.

ARGOS — On May 13th, 2026, around 9:54 pm,​ a Marshall County Deputy stopped a dark blue GMC Acadia on US31 at 12th

Road for speeding 86 mph in a 60 mph zone.
The driver,​ Davontae Conley, 33, of Benton Harbor, MI, was found to have been drinking and agreed to field sobriety tests and later a certified blood test. Conley was first taken to the Plymouth Hospital for a certified blood test, where he gave a sample of blood, and the result was .119% BAC.
Conley was then arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated and transported to the Marshall County Jail, where he was charged and booked for the offense.

Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.​