April 17, 2014
04/18/14 Chief Deputy Prosecutor Nelson Chipman lamented today that “for the last 6 or 7 years, one name consistently came up over and over in the overwhelming number of meth related cases handled by local law enforcement.” “In my opinion,” said Chipman, “Otis Young is responsible for getting more people, particularly young females, addicted to methamphetamine, and has taught more people how to cook this poison, then any other single person in our county.”
Judge Robert O. Bowen approved an agreement reached between Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Nelson Chipman and defense attorney Alexander Hoover, and Thursday sentenced Otis Young, 33, of Plymouth to the Indiana Department of Corrections for a total of 28 years of imprisonment for a whole host of criminal charges. Specifically, Bowen sentenced Young to 20 years imprisonment, the maximum under the law for manufacturing methamphetamine; two years of imprisonment for the offense of strangulation of his then girlfriend; and six years of imprisonment as an habitual offender. All of the sentences were ordered to be served consecutively for a total of 28 years of imprisonment. Five years was suspended off of the 20 year manufacturing conviction. The agreement provided Young with the opportunity to be eligible for purposeful incarceration should he behave himself in prison, but only after serving 13 years of the sentence. In addition, Judge Bowen would have the final say in approval. Chipman added, “we do not expect Otis will succeed in petitioning the court for purposeful incarceration. In fact, due to several rule violations while in jail locally, the Sheriff has already revoked half of Young’s good time credits.”
The case began on June 7, 2013 with Plymouth Police Detective Leo Mangus dispatched to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center to interview Young’s former girlfriend who was suffering from injuries inflicted by Young. Among the numerous injuries were some obviously related to Young’s strangulation of the victim.
Mangus’ investigation revealed Young could be found at a rural Argos location. Officers from Plymouth Police, Marshall County Police and the Indiana State Police then converged on the property in pursuit of Young. He was immediately observed running from police, along with another individual who was carrying what appeared to be a one pot methamphetamine bottle. It was necessary for Officer John Weir to release his police dog to chase and capture Young who was hiding in a tree.
A subsequent search warrant was obtained for the residence and outbuildings that resulted in locating numerous items associated with the manufacturing of methamphetamine. Several individuals at the home were arrested either that day or several days later as laboratory results became known. Included in the items seized was a bottle of Naptha solvent, a substitute for Coleman fuel in the meth making recipe. Several weeks later State Police laboratory technicians were able to match Young’s fingerprint on the Naptha bottle. Until then, Young denied he was involved with the manufacturing process found at the residence. Chipman noted, “ it is a rarity when we can find fingerprints on an integral component in the manufacturing process. This evidence was devastating to the defense.”
Also utilized to maximum advantage in the prosecution of Young was the willingness of numerous former friends and colleagues of Young who were no longer going to cover for his misdeeds. “They were virtually lining up to testify against Otis. He had done so much harm to them over the years, it was all coming back to roost.” As a result, Young agreed to a lengthy prison sentence to avoid an even longer sentence should he have been convicted on all counts, as well as a second case that was pending and dismissed pursuant to the agreement.
“We won’t have to deal with Otis for a long, long time to come. That is good for the entire community.”