Mother sentenced to 15 weekends for PCF trafficking with her son

An Indianapolis woman who was caught trying to smuggle drugs to her son in the Putnamville Correctional Facility (PCF) last year got a little parenting advice along with her one-year sentence Wednesday in Putnam Superior Court.

Debora S. Gipson, 59, appeared in court on a change-of-plea hearing and sentencing before Judge Denny Bridges after a plea agreement was reached with the Putnam County Prosecutor’s Office.

Represented by attorney Christopher Eskew, Gipson agreed to plead guilty to the Level 6 felony charge possession of a narcotic drug -- in this case, heroin -- in exchange for the state dropping the Level 5 trafficking with an inmate charge.

A Level 6 felony carries a sentencing range of 6-30 months, while a Level 5 charge would have been punishable by 1-6 years in the Department of Correction.

Gipson tried to smuggle heroin into the prison on Oct. 14, 2015, but was caught in the act.

Basically because of that act, Judge Bridges noted that Gipson “has forfeited any right to see her son while he’s still incarcerated.”

Before pronouncing sentence, Bridges told Gipson, “You and I are the same age. If my son were in prison, I think I’d try to do something more for him than smuggle him in some dope.”

Defense attorney Eskew asked that Gipson be sentenced to one year, all suspended, calling her a “low-risk” defendant who has no other criminal record.

However, Deputy Prosecutor Jim Ensley took exception to that, noting that zero time had been served by Gipson in the case.

Ensley said a jail sentence would be “a function of deterrence,” designed in part, he added, “to prevent other people from acting in this manner.”

He asked that the judge follow the presentence investigation recommendation of a year suspended but for 15 weekends in the Putnam County Jail.

“Basically that’s a 60-day sentence, do 30,” Judge Bridges said, agreeing to that sentence for Gipson, along with the proviso that if she qualifies for home detention, she be allowed to do 180 days on home detention in lieu of the 15 weekends in jail.