Law and Order Lake County

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Updated: February 14, 2012 5:36PM

Cedar Lake

Gary man admits selling cocaine

Lake Superior Court Judge Clarence Murray sentenced a Gary man to five years in prison for possession of a controlled substance.

Murray imposed the sentence for Anthony Lee Curry, 27, of Gary, who admitted his role in a $400 crack cocaine sale to a confidential informant working with HIDTA Drug Enforcement Task Force investigators while he was living with his girlfriend and co-defendant, Melissa Christian, in Cedar Lake between March 2 and May 18. Christian’s sister, Tonya McElvene, also was charged in the case.

Deputy prosecutor Judy Massa argued for the full six-year sentence outlined in the plea agreement, noting Curry has two prior misdemeanor and three prior felony convictions. Curry was on probation when he sold the drugs.

Defense attorney Adam Tavitas noted his client has strong family support and argued for a four-year sentence.

“I know I’ve messed up a couple times. I just want one more chance,” Curry said.

Murray imposed a two-year sentence for a probation revocation for battery. With good-time credit, Curry has served 618 days toward the probation revocation. He had faced a maximum 20-year sentence on the original charges.

McElvane. 40, of Gary pleaded guilty to neglect of a dependent and was sentenced to 18 months on probation.

Christian, 30, of Cedar Lake has pleaded not guilty to dealing in cocaine. Her omnibus hearing is March 14.

Lake Station

One of three teens in robbery pleads

A Lake Station man has pleaded guilty to robbery in exchange for a 10-year sentence.

Mark Anthony Cherry, 19, admitted he and co-defendants Domanique Benham and Demetrias Durr attacked Adalberto Burgos, hit him in the face, pushed him to the ground and kicked him in the face, knocking out some of his teeth. The teens then stole Burgos’ money, keys and pocketknife. The crime occurred Jan. 10, 2011 on the bike trail near 27th Avenue and New Jersey Street in Lake Station.

Cherry’s plea agreement, filed just days before his case was set for trial before Lake Superior Court Judge Thomas Stefaniak Jr. outlines a six-year prison term, followed by four years on probation.

Durr, 17, of Lake Station, pleaded guilty in September to robbery and faces a sentence range of six to 20 years. His sentencing hearing is March 26.

Benham, 18, of Crown Point, pleaded guilty to robbery. His sentencing hearing is March 28.

All three teens were charged with robbery, a class A felony punishable by 20 to 50 years.

MERRILLVILLE

Man sought in armed robbery

Police are searching for a man who robbed a KFC at gunpoint Monday night.

At 8:42 p.m., employees told police that a black man, wearing a blue bandanna over his face, entered the restaurant at 5700 Broadway and demanded money. He displayed a silver handgun and employees complied.

The man fled the building on foot with an undetermined amount of cash. Officers tried tracking the man via footprints he made in the snow, but they were unable to find him. The man may have received a ride in a car at some point.

Employees said the man was wearing blue jeans and a hooded sweatshirt as well. No one was injured in the incident.