November 30, 2014
John Hopkins, 56, with a State Road 17 Culver address, was sentenced today (November 26, 2014) in Marshall Superior Court No. 1 to 10 years imprisonment for manufacturing methamphetamine. In open court, Hopkins admitted that on June 3, 2014, he manufactured methamphetamine along with two other individuals at his home on SR 17.
Judge Robert O. Bowen approved an agreement reached between Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Nelson Chipman and defense attorney Jeffery Houin, which provided for a 10 year sentence of imprisonment at the Indiana Department of Corrections, with no part of the sentence suspended. Hopkins will be allowed to petition the court for intensive drug rehabilitation through purposeful incarceration after serving 5 years of the sentence.
The case began on June 3 with Marshall County Probation Officer Steve Harner requesting to complete a home visit at the Hopkins residence. Harner requested the assistance of Indiana State Police Trooper Jason Faulstich. Assisting were Marshall County Police Officer Jonathon Bryant, along with Probation Officer Abby Caswell.
Upon arriving at the residence, three individuals were observed outside of the home. Trooper Faulstich requested permission from John Hopkins to search the home but was denied. Officer Bryant observed one of the individuals trying to conceal a marijuana pipe, and he also observed a bag in the automobile that was parked at the residence that smelled of a chemical odor. Closer observation of the bag revealed two pop bottles, one with sludge.
A search warrant for the house was obtained and numerous items associated with the manufacturing of methamphetamine were located inside and outside the house. The State Police Clandestine Team was called for clean up, and they located additional items associated with the manufacture of meth. The three individuals at the house were arrested. Hopkins is the first case to be resolved.