Spence, 51, of Culver, was sentenced on September 2, in Marshall Superior Court Number One to 10 years imprisonment at the Indiana Department of Correction with 6 years executed and 4 years suspended for Conspiracy to Commit Dealing in Methamphetamine as a Class B Felony. Judge Robert O. Bowen approved an agreement between Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Tami Napier and defense attorney Tom Black.
In open court, Spence admitted that on June 3, 2014, the Indiana State Police began an investigation on State Road 17 in Culver, Indiana in which it became apparent that methamphetamine was being manufactured. Pursuant to evidence collected at the scene and interviews with others involved in the incident who have already been sentenced to the Indiana Department of Correction, Spence and two others at the residence conspired to manufacture methamphetamine. In exchange for a guilty plea, the State dismissed the remaining charges in this case.
The case began on June 3, 2014, when Indiana State Trooper Jason Faulstich responded to a home in Culver to assist Marshall County Probation in a routine home visit. John Hopkins was present at the home as well as Eddie Spence and Alex Kitts. Hopkins. Spence, Hopkins and Kitts were all interviewed by police. Physical evidence collected supported the statements of the three men. All three men admitted to participating in the manufacturing of methamphetamine at the house in Culver.
The Indiana State Police came to the scene to assist in cleaning up the site. Evidence located during the clean-up process included numerous items consistent with the ingredients necessary for the manufacturing of methamphetamine.
Eddie Spence, age 51 at the time of the offense, has an extensive criminal history that includes offenses related to substance abuse and battery.
Prosecuting Attorney Nelson Chipman praised the performance of the Indiana State Police and the Marshall County Probation Department for uncovering this dangerous and destructive activity. Chipman also emphasized how the prosecution of methamphetamine-related offenses must be comprehensive, consistent and aggressive. “It is of the utmost importance to aggressively prosecute methamphetamine cases as the effects of its possession, manufacture, dealing or use in our community is disastrously harmful to the person manufacturing the drug as well as anyone in the vicinity of the process.”
