June 14, 2012
06/15/12 A Marshall County jury deliberated almost 4 hours on Wednesday, after which it found Taran James Holderman of Warsaw guilty of Manufacturing Methamphetamine and Possession of Precursors with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine. After hearing a day and a half of testimony, the jury returned its verdict to presiding Judge Robert O. Bowen of Marshall Superior Court Number 1.
The case started when a vehicle was stopped by County Police Officer Ryan Hollopeter along 14B Road near the intersection of Beech Road at 11:16 p.m. on December 28, 2011. The driver of the vehicle was Seth Wright, with passengers Brittney Padgett and the defendant in this case, Taran Holderman. Upon exiting the vehicle, the driver acknowledged an active “one pot” meth lab cooking underneath the front seat. A subsequent search turned up several other meth related manufacturing items.
Judge Bowen set sentencing for July 11, 2012. Holderman faces a prison term from a minimum of 6 years to a maximum of 23 years, and $20,000 in fines.
Officers from the Bourbon Police Department and the Indiana State Police assisted with the investigation. The State of Indiana was represented by Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney E. Nelson Chipman, Jr.. Mr. Holderman was represented by Edward Ruiz.