May 20, 2013
05/21/13 Amy Banks, 37, formerly of Bourbon, was sentenced on May 16 in Marshall Superior Court No. 1 to 10 years imprisonment for manufacturing methamphetamine. In open court, Banks admitted that on January 24, 2012 she was manufacturing methamphetamine in the home she shared with others on Main St., in Bourbon.
Judge Robert O. Bowen approved an agreement reached between Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Nelson Chipman and defense attorney Tom Black, which provided for a sentence at the Indiana Department of Corrections of 10 years of imprisonment. No part of the sentence was suspended.
The case began when Indiana State Police Officer Keith Bikowski was informed by detectives from the Kosciusko County Drug Task Force that a confidential informant could purchase methamphetamine from another resident at the same house in Bourbon. A controlled drug buy was completed and a search warrant was drafted and approved by Judge Bowen to further search the house. Upon entering the house, Officer Bikowski discovered Ms. Banks. The search of the home revealed an active methamphetamine lab in the bedroom occupied by Ms. Banks, finished product of methamphetamine, a loaded handgun, various drug paraphernalia and numerous manufacturing precursors.
Trooper Bikowski interviewed Banks at the scene and she admitted that the methamphetamine lab in her bedroom was hers, and that she had set up lines of meth for her and a juvenile in the home to smoke just before police arrived.
A jury trial was scheduled to begin on May 28th, but was canceled when Banks decided to plead guilty. Banks will serve her sentence at the Indiana Department of Corrections.
The Prosecutor’s Office commends Officer Keith Bikowski for the excellent police work resulting in the arrest and successful prosecution of Banks.