A Jasonville woman, arrested in September after she was ordered to leave Shakamak School but refused, has already agreed to plead guilty.

Amanda Joann Pierce, 28, of Jasonville, was arrested on Thursday, September 20, on the grounds of the Shakamak School in Jasonville.

Background

Sgt. Brian Pilant of the Jasonville Police Department, who also serves as the School Resource Officer for MSD Shakamak School, was working at the school that day when he was called by the central office to come to the office as soon as possible. When he got to the office, the superintendent was talking to Pierce.

Pierce was asking the superintendent if her son was there at the school. Officer Pilant said he knew Pierce had signed over her rights to a child when she was in jail quite a while ago. The superintendent told Pierce he could not release any information to her and he also told her she needed to leave the property because she was trespassing.

This occurred at the time of day when students would soon be released from school. Besides telling the superintendent that she was not leaving, Pilant reported Pierce was also talking to people who were not there.

Pilant called for JPD Officer Ryan Van Horn to be dispatched to the school and after he arrived, Pierce was taken into custody and transported to the Greene County Jail where her bond was set at $1,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed. Pierce did not bond out.

Pierce was then charged with criminal trespassing, a Class A misdemeanor, and Defense Attorney Tim Shonk was appointed to represent her as a public defender. Deputy Prosecutor Cheryl Jackson Stone has been representing the state.

Case Update

By last Thursday, October 11, Pierce had agreed to plead guilty in a negotiated plea agreement filed with the court and a date for a change of plea and sentencing hearing was set in early November.

Under the terms of the agreement, Pierce will pay a $35 fine plus court costs and she’ll be sentenced to time already served in jail as of the date of the agreement, which was 20 days.

Pierce was then released from jail on her own recognizance and this case will conclude during the sentencing hearing.