June 26, 2014
Amanda Heeter, 24, of Plymouth, was sentenced Wednesday, June 25, in Marshall Superior Court Number 1 to 10 years imprisonment for conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, and an additional 4 year term of imprisonment for neglect of a dependent. In open court, Heeter admitted she conspired with Brock Biddle and Kelly Cowger to manufacture methamphetamine at her home on Loon Court in Plymouth. In addition, Heeter admitted that the act of manufacturing methamphetamine placed a dependent child in grave danger.
Judge Robert O. Bowen approved an agreement reached between Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Nelson Chipman and defense attorney Cindi J. Andrews, which provided for a 10 year sentence of imprisonment at the Indiana Department of Corrections on the conspiracy charge, and 4 years imprisonment on the neglect of dependent charge. Both sentences were ordered to be served concurrent with one another. Four years of the sentence on the conspiracy charge was suspended.
Bowen ordered Heeter to undergo intensive drug rehabilitation through the Purposeful Incarceration program, and ordered her to be placed on two years probation upon her release from prison. Part of the agreement includes she testify truthfully in any trial related to the case.
An investigation began in January of 2014 when Officer John Weir and Derek Workman of the Plymouth Police Department had visited the premises on several occasions due to complaints of domestic disputes. They were aware that Biddle and Heeter resided there with a 4 year old child. Subsequent observation of the premises revealed numerous visitors known to be in the methamphetamine area culture. A review of the national NPLex log information revealed that Heeter and Biddle were frequent purchasers of pseudoephedrine based products. Other investigative techniques were utilized, and in collaboration with Indiana State Police Officers Keith Bikowski and Jason Faulstich, a search warrant for the premises was drafted and approved by Judge Bowen.
An early morning raid of the residence took place on February 4, 2014. Heeter was arrested at the Loon Court location along with two other individuals. The child was taken into protective custody. A thorough search of the residence revealed numerous one pot labs and several items associated with the manufacture of methamphetamine.
Chipman commented, “This is another example of excellent collaboration and cooperation between officers of two departments working together to put a stop to meth production and protecting a helpless child from its exposure.”