Judge Scott Sirk of the Hancock County Circuit Court wastes no time in granting a motion sought by Indianapolis attorney Jim Voyles on behalf of his client, Bret Wells of Greenfield, in the massive illegal multi-million-dollar global sports betting business that took thousands of dollars of bets on Indiana high school football games, among other things, and involved a number of individuals (who were never charged) as runners or who held other positions in the lucrative scheme. Wells pleaded guilty to a single count of Professional Gambling as a Level 6 Felony shortly before his scheduled November 30 jury trial, entering into a plea agreement after a law enforcement snafu with compliance with the technical terms of a search warrant derailed the State’s case. We told you in our last issue that after Voyles negotiated a favorable deal dictating that Wells could earn alternative misdemeanor sentencing upon completion of the conditions of the agreement (which included payment of court costs and fees, $500 restitution to one individual, and completion of a gambling assessment), the parties and court also agreed to a two-year suspended sentence and 18 months of formal probation. The probation order allowed Judge Sirk − at any time − to revoke or modify any condition of probation, as well as discharge Wells from probation if the court sees fit. On February 1, Voyles returned to inform the court that Wells successfully completed all terms of probation and paid all costs, fees, and restitution. He underwent the required gambling assessment on January 18 at Life Recovery Center and was “determined to not need further treatment.” Accordingly, Voyles petitions the court on Wells behalf to terminate probation and enter judgment of conviction for a Class A Misdemeanor . . . and six days later Judge Sirk enters the order requested by Voyles for Wells, rescinding the felony charge fewer than 10 weeks after the plea.
