First of 3 suspects in meth bust gets six years in DOC
One of three suspects arrested in a Greencastle methamphetamine bust last July has been sentenced to six years in the Indiana Department of Correction after accepting a plea agreement.
Charles R. Sage II, 28, Greencastle, agreed to plead guilty to Count I, dealing in methamphetamine, a Class B felony, in exchange for three additional counts against him (as well as an accompanying probation violation charge) being dismissed.
He was sentenced Wednesday in Putnam Superior Court by Judge Denny Bridges to six years, all to be executed in the DOC.
Sage and two Greencastle co-defendants --- Melissa K. Buis, 42, and Kandice G. Shalayev, 29 -- were arrested July 24 on four identical charges following a traffic stop at Veterans Memorial Highway and 10th Street.
Initial charges against the trio were enumerated as:
-- Dealing in methamphetamine, a Class B felony, punishable by 6-20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
-- Possession of methamphetamine, a Class D felony, punishable by 6 months to 3 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
-- Possession of a single precursor, a Class C felony, punishable by 2-8 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
-- Dealing in a sawed-off shotgun, a Class D felony, punishable by 6 months to 3 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Meanwhile, the cases of Buis and Shalayev have not yet been resolved. Court records indicate jury trials are still listed for both female defendants.
Buis is due for a trial to begin on Feb. 25, while Shalayev has a trial scheduled for April 1.
Court-appointed attorney Darrel Eddie Felling told the court Sage has "had some problems with methamphetamine in the past" and asked that he be transferred from Putnam County Jail to DOC as soon as possible to enter a treatment program.
Judge Bridges said he would include such a suggestion in his report to the Putnamville Correctional Facility (PCF).
However, Sage was quick to throw cold water on that plan.
"I can't go to Putnamville, your honor," he interjected.
"Why is that?" a puzzled Judge Bridges asked.
"My dad works there," Sage responded.
Sage is expected to be assigned as soon as possible to another DOC location that offers a drug treatment program.
The arrests came following a traffic stop, which led to an investigation of a rolling methamphetamine lab.
At the time, the Indiana State Police Putnamville Meth Suppression Team had reportedly been investigating the suspects when Troopers Adam Edwards and Shilo Raulston stopped a 2001 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Sage just before noon on July 24.
The "overpowering odor of ether," commonly associated with the production of methamphetamine, emanated from the pickup, Edwards said, ultimately suggesting the suspects were harboring a rolling meth lab.
Upon further investigation, police found a green plastic bottle containing a clear liquid with metallic flakes and a granular substance, which reportedly tested positive for meth in a field test.
The rolling lab could have yielded approximately two grams of methamphetamine, officials said at time of the arrests.
During a hazardous materials assessment of the vehicle police found ammonium nitrate, sodium hydroxide, lithium strips and a one-pot reaction vessel.
They also discovered a sawed-off shotgun (with an altered barrel less than 18 inches long) and a bulletproof vest in the truck.
Among the illegal precursors in the suspects' possession, police said, were such meth-making staples as 10 grams of pseudoephedrine, lithium batteries and coffee filters.