CATCHING UP WITH PIKE COUNTY CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Week of March 25, 2024
Checking the Public Records: A Busy week in the Pike Circuit Court for drug crime
MARCH 26 SEARCH WARRANT: CHRIS AND MACEY HEIPLE ARRESTED FOR POSSESSION OF METH
For the second week in a row the Pike County Sheriffs Department was working overtime due to drug complaints. Sgt. Jared Simmons applied for a search warrant of the Macey Heiple residence at 1384 E. Lake Minnis Court, Petersburg where they located Heiple and her husband, Chris Heiple. According to Simmons’ sworn affidavit of probable cause, search of the bedroom of the residence located a baggie with approximately one gram of crystal-like substance testing positive for methamphetamine in addition to hypodermic needles, with items officers associated with methamphetamine and marijuana usage further located throughout the residence.
Chris and Macey Heiple were jailed and charged with Possession of Methamphetamine and Maintaining a Common Nuisance which are level 6 felonies under Indiana law. If either of the Heiple’s are convicted, a level 6 felony is punishable by between 6 months and two and a half years imprisonment and up to a $10,000 fine.
SEAN LEMOND BACKS OUT OF PLEA AGREEMENT AND NOW FACES UP TO THIRTY YEARS IN THE DOC
Sean M. Lemond of Otwell appeared to avoid a jury trial in which he faced up to thirty years for alleged Dealing Methamphetamine when he filed a March 20, 2024 guilty plea agreeing to fifteen years which was to be divided with the first
four of that being prison and the last eleven being work release. However, Lemond now seeks to undo that agreement with a letter that he filed with the Pike Circuit Court on March 21, 2024 seeking to fire his counsel.
In that letter, Lemond claims that he was deceived by his court-appointed attorney. The Pike Circuit Court explained the terms in open Court to Lemond, but he now seeks new counsel.
In September of 2023, Pike County Deputy Sheriff Jared Simmons filed a sworn affidavit stating to the Court that he watched Sean Lemond deliver a baggie with over ten grams of substance field testing for methamphetamine, while Simmons was hiding in the woods at a rural Velpen residence. When Lemond ultimately gets his day in Court a jury will decide if that allegation is correct beyond a reasonable doubt, and, if convicted Lemond will face up to thirty years in prison on a Level 2 felony charge.
The Pike County Prosecutor’s office typically offers a significantly reduced sentence in plea negotiations due to the clogged jury trial calendar in Pike County.
SHAWN COOK RECEIVES TEN YEARS WORK RELEASE ON METH CHARGE PLUS HABITUAL
On March 26, 2024, Shawn Cook of Velpen, was sentenced to four years work release on a level 5 felony Possession of Methamphetamine charge with six additional years added for being a Habitual Offender. Cook was arrested in September 2023, when police reported to the Court that he had possessed greater than 5 grams of methamphetamine. Cook subsequently filed a plea agreement on February 26 with the Pike Circuit Court agreeing to the charge and Habitual Enhancement with a stipulated term of the ten total years work release. After a pre-sentence report, the Court entered formal sentence on March 26, 2024.
Cook can be expected to spend approximately 75% of the total ten years in the Work release program, however, the State reserves the right to request revocation of work release privileges should he violate the program rules or commit a new offense.
The Pike County Prosecutor’s office typically offers a significantly reduced sentence in plea negotiations due to the clogged jury trial calendar in Pike County.
PAIR ARRESTED DURING FEBRUARY TRAFFIC STOP SENTENCED FOR POSSESSION OF METH
Rebekah Lamar and Brandon M. Robinson, of Hazleton, were sentenced this week in the Pike Circuit Court after pleading guilty to level 6 felony Possession of Meth arising from a February traffic stop in Pike County. Each received a sentence of 545 days in Pike County Jail, with 531 days suspended to probation, receiving credit for seven days served with seven days good time. Pursuant to the plea, each defendant has the right to reduction to a misdemeanor at the end of the term if they successfully comply with all probation terms.
JOHN DAVID DILLON RECEIVES FOUR YEARS WORK RELEASE ON METH DEALING CHARGE
On March 26, 2024, John David Dillon of Winslow, entered a plea to level 5 felony Dealing in Methamphetamine charge. Dillon was arrested in February 2024 by Pike County Deputy Sheriff Scott Arnold who reported that Dillon admitted in a mirandized interview to Dealing Methamphetamine.
Senior Judge Dean Sobecki sentenced Dillon to the four year term at work release, which is expected to require Dillon to spend approximately three actual years in the Vincennes program.
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