RUSHVILLE —
Jason M. Middleton, of Arlington, was found guilty of Possession of Methamphetamine, a Class D Felony, and Possession of Paraphernalia, a Class A Misdemeanor, by a Rush County jury last week in the Rush Superior Court.
Judge Brian D. Hill presided over the case.
Middleton was accused of possessing methamphetamine and devices used to introduce methamphetamine into a person's body after these items were found by police in a vehicle occupied by Middleton in the Walmart plaza parking lot.
On Sept. 19, 2011, Walmart employees called police about Middleton's
behavior in the store, believing that he was stealing jewelry.
Rushville Police Department officers Randy Meek and Michael Ervin responded.
The suspect had left by the time police arrived, but the officers returned
shortly after that when Walmart called again saying the suspect had returned to the store.
Meek entered the store and located Middleton, and after identifying him placed him under arrest for an outstanding probation violation warrant.
Ervin located the vehicle, driven by Daniel Puckett (also an Arlington resident), in the Walmart parking lot and searched the vehicle after obtaining consent to do so from Puckett.
Ervin testified that he was looking for possible stolen jewelry, but instead found methamphetamine and related drug paraphernalia in the vehicle.
Both Puckett and Middleton were arrested and charged with possession of these items.
The jury heard from the RPD officers, Puckett, and also listened to an audio recording of Middleton's initial hearing held the day after his arrest, where he told the judge that he was guilty, and that the items found in the car belonged to him and not to Puckett.
After Rush County Prosecutor Phil Caviness rested the State's case, Middleton testified that he told the judge he was guilty and the drugs and
paraphernalia belonged only to him because he was confused.
After the trial, Caviness stated that he was glad the jury didn't buy into that explanation.
"I don't see how you can sit in front of a jury and explain away your courtroom admission to a crime, and it certainly didn't work in Mr. Middleton's case," the prosecutor said.
Caviness thanked the Rushville Police Department for their efforts in this case, and Chief Deputy Prosecutor Phillip Morgan who helped present the State's case to the jury.
Middleton is scheduled for sentencing Jan. 23, 2012 and faces up to 3 years in prison.
He also faces a probation violation hearing for violating the terms of his probation on a 2006 conviction for Dealing Methamphetamine, a Class B Felony.
News
Arlington man convicted in jury trial
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RCCF Education Fund Grants awarded
The Rush County Education Fund Grants Committee recently met to review grant applications for the 2012 grant cycle and to make their recommendations to the Rush County Community Foundation's Board of Directors.
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Commissioners hear of feasibility study
The Rush County Commissioners met earlier this week and heard a report regarding a feasibility study currently underway regarding the city possibly running an ambulance service out of the Rushville Fire Department.
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Pool open
Waggener Community Pool will be open from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday. The pool will be closed Monday and Tuesday and then open again Wednesday as was originally scheduled. Information: 932-7100.
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Farmers Market
The Rush County Farmers and Artisans Market kicks off the 2012 season at 9 a.m. Saturday in the 100 block of East Third Street in downtown Rushville!
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Good Samaritan recognized for heroic efforts
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Lion Project showing community pride
If you've been paying attention, you'll have noticed that new concrete lions are showing up all over town.
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Waggener Pool opening Saturday and Sunday
In an update to this story, the City announced plans today to open Waggener Community Pool earlier than originally planned due to expected high temperatures over Memorial Weekend. Mayor Mike Pavey has asked that the pool be open this coming Saturday and Sunday. Hours will be noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday. The pool will be closed on Monday for Memorial Day and Tuesday, and open again Wednesday, May 30, as was originally scheduled.
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Why do young white women risk cancer to be tan?
A CDC report out this month found that nearly one in three white women aged 18 to 25 had used a tanning booth in the previous year. White women aged 18 to 21 went the most often, averaging 27.6 sessions per year—that’s over two sessions per month—while nearly 70 percent said they had gone at least 10 times in the last year.
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Collision lands driver in Indy trauma center
A Milroy woman sustained serious injuries in a single vehicle accident on SR 244 west of Milroy that was reported shortly after 1 p.m. Monday.
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Todd resigns
Bill Todd (center) is pictured during a recent meeting of the Rush County Commissioners at which he formally announced that he had turned in his resignation as the Rush County Area Plan Director. Todd has served in the capacity of APC director since 1998.
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