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Judge grants deferred adjudication, orders drug-court referral and GPS for Amanda Settle
Summary
Judge Stephanie Boyd accepted a plea and imposed deferred adjudication with continued GPS monitoring, community-service requirements and referral to felony drug court for Amanda Settle after the court considered state, defense and probation input.
Judge Stephanie Boyd accepted a plea from Amanda Settle and granted deferred adjudication and related supervision terms, including continued GPS monitoring and referral to felony drug court.
The judge told Settle the plea terms and potential consequences and said, "If you were revoked, you're looking at 20 years in the prison" for one case and 10 years on the other if revoked. The court explained that the deferred adjudication would expose Settle to the full range of punishments on revocation and emphasized personal accountability while supervising her case.
Why it matters: The court’s order gives Settle an opportunity for supervised treatment rather than immediate prison time while imposing conditions intended to protect the community and promote rehabilitation.
State and defense described Settle’s recent progress and risks. The prosecutor noted the state’s concern about backsliding given the defendant’s history but also acknowledged recent changes. Defense counsel and members of Settle’s family described steps Settle had taken since arrest; the record shows she had completed drug testing and that the positive result was attributable to medication-assisted treatment rather than illicit substances.
The court’s terms include continued GPS monitoring with partial GPS for employment, 200 hours of community-service restitution with 100 hours deemed satisfied upon completion of parenting classes, referral to felony drug court (the record indicates Settle had been accepted), a $1,000 fine probated, waived GPS fees, and conditions prohibiting harmful or injurious contact with certain named individuals. The court also set a restitution hearing for September 11 to resolve any restitution amounts.
Judge Boyd repeatedly emphasized that deferred adjudication carries substantial consequences on revocation and urged Settle to consider her obligations for her newborn and family. The court instructed Settle’s counsel and probation to confirm the felony drug court placement and continue GPS until otherwise directed.
The court entered the plea, accepted the agreement, and placed the defendant on supervised deferred adjudication under the terms stated on the record.
Looking ahead: Probation will monitor compliance and set a restitution hearing; the referral to felony drug court is intended to prioritize treatment over incarceration if Settle remains compliant.
