11/04/13 Raymond VanBlaricom, 27, of Plymouth, was sentenced Thursday in Marshall Superior Court 1 to twelve years imprisonment for possessing methamphetamine directly across the street from Sunnyside Park in Bremen, a Class B felony. In open court, VanBlaricom had previously admitted he manufactured and possessed methamphetamine on May 19, 2013 at a home on East St. in Bremen.
Judge Robert O. Bowen approved an agreement reached between Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Nelson Chipman and defense attorney Edward Ruiz, which provided for a sentence at the Indiana Department of Corrections of 12 years of imprisonment. No part of the sentence was suspended.
The case began when the tenant of the home called Bremen Police at approximately 3:30 pm on May 19 to report that two individuals came to her home with drugs, and then began manufacturing methamphetamine. She only knew the two individuals by their first names. She had ordered the two individuals to leave her residence, but they refused.
Sgt. Trent Stouder of the Bremen Police Department was the first to arrive at the residence. The tenant described the situation and gave Stouder permission to enter the home and “do what you have to do.” Stouder entered through the front door and walked through the residence and became overwhelmed with chemical odors. He left the premises to get his breath and met with Officer Bruce Gadziola. After regrouping, both officers re-entered the home and found VanBlaricom and another individual in the bathroom with a one pot lab actively producing methamphetamine. Numerous parts of the manufacturing process were also located in the bathroom. Both individuals were arrested and have been in jail since.
Pursuant to a plea agreement, one count of manufacturing methamphetamine and one count of possession of precursors was dismissed. Chipman explained, “The defendant, through his counsel, agreed to plead guilty to possession of methamphetamine within 1000 feet of a public park, which is a serious Class B felony. In exchange, the State agreed to dismiss Counts I and III, but insisted on a 12 year sentence of imprisonment. Mr. VanBlaricom’s previous record for such a young man, and his demeanor throughout the process certainly justified a sentence greater than the advisory on a Class B felony. As a practical matter, it makes no difference to us whether he plead to manufacturing as a B felony or possession as a B felony.”
Chipman also lauded the tenant for calling the police for assistance and reporting the suspected manufacturing operation. “The quick action of the Bremen PD also deserves the community gratitude.”
