Albion woman sentenced to 18 months

COLFAX — An Albion woman was sentenced to the maximum charge of 18 months in prison for giving marijuana to minors.

Catherynne Starks, 38, of Albion pled guilty in Whitman County Superior Court on Friday, July 26, to four counts of providing minors with cannabis.

Starks was arrested at approximately 2:30 p.m. on November 15, 2023, when officers responded to a drug offense after receiving a call from Robert Keller who stated that Starks had given his 13-year-old stepdaughter drugs.

The probable cause was read by prosecutors who stated that Starks had given two 13-year-old girls and a 16-year-old girl marijuana on multiple occasions.

Starks violated her pretrial release and was arrested on a warrant in Montana.

Prosecution and defense recommended an eight month sentence, with 12 months of community custody which Superior Court Judge Gary Libey denied after a statement by the victim’s stepfather.

“My daughter is facing very very very severe consequences, because of this,” Keller told the court, “She is a teenage girl, she is going to make decisions, but kids look up to adults as authority figures. If an adult says it’s ok to do something, a child is going to think it is ok.”

After hearing Keller’s statement on how his stepdaughter’s life has spiraled out of control, Libey said that eight months is not enough time for what has happened to her. “You haven’t shown any remorse at all,” Libey said to Starks.

Starks responded by saying that she was in Montana due to family issues and had no intentions of running, “I just had a whole lot of bad life moments,” she said, “It was never my intention to not be here.”

Libey responded stating that she was gone for at least two months and has damaged beyond description a young woman.

“I haven’t seen remorse from you, I haven’t seen any respect from you to be here in court to be on time, the court had to issue a warrant for your arrest,” Libey said, “You’ve had a life of no concern for others, especially this young girl. This sentence deserves 18 months maximum after listening to the father.”

Libey sentenced Starks to the maximum of 18 months, followed by 12 months of community custody in which Starks must maintain sobriety.

“I just can’t think of anything less that could be justice.” Libey said.