Law and Order Lake County

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Hammond

Eight years for molesting teenager

Lake Superior Court Judge Diane Ross Boswell sentenced a Hammond man to eight years in prison for molesting a 13-year-old girl.

Jaime Luis Diaz, 41, admitted he molested the girl and was caught by another young relative engaged in sexual activity with the girl in Hammond.

Defense attorney Steve Haddad noted Diaz has a substance abuse problem and was molested as a child.

Deputy prosecutor Judy Massa argued for the maximum 10-year sentence outlined in the plea agreement, noting that Diaz qualifies as a sexually violent offender but is not a credit-restricted felon so will earn day-for-day credit with good behavior. Massa referred to a letter from the girl’s mother that the child is struggling in school and is in counseling.

Boswell imposed a 10-year sentence, with eight years executed in prison followed by two years suspended and served on probation.

Diaz had faced from 20 to 50 years on the original child molesting charges.

Man took jewelry, TV from home

Lake Superior Court Judge Diane Ross Boswell sentenced a Gary man to two years and ordered him to pay $1,800 in restitution for theft.

Lorenzo Lanier Sturgis, 20, admitted he took a 26-inch flat-screen television and two jewelry boxes from a home in the 7300 block of Colorado Avenue, Hammond.

Boswell agreed to allow Sturgis to be transferred to the Lake County Community Corrections work release program when he qualifies.

Sturgis had faced six to 20 years on the original burglary charge.

East Chicago

Man admits robbing pizza guy

An East Chicago man was sentenced to four years on probation and 60 days in custody for robbery.

Andreas L. Ramos, 19, also was ordered by Lake Superior Court Judge Salvador Vasquez to pay $48 in restitution to Pedro Gutierrez, who was called Aug. 29 to deliver a pizza in the 3900 block of Grand Boulevard, East Chicago. Instead, Ramos and a co-defendant robbed Gutierrez at gunpoint of the pizza, $16 and a cell phone.

Co-defendant Javontai S. Harris, 19, has pleaded not guilty. His omnibus hearing is March 20.