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

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