Indy man receives 9-year sentence

An Indianapolis man received a nine-year sentence in Putnam County Circuit Court Thursday.

Richard D. Shannon, 27, was convicted of dealing in a schedule II controlled substance, a Class B felony. His sentence consists of six years executed prison time, no home detention and three years probation.

With Indiana good time credit, he could be out of prison in three years.

The maximum prison sentence for a Class B felony is 20 years.

Under the terms of a plea agreement, charges of Class A felony dealing in cocaine, Class C felony conspiracy to commit trafficking with an inmate and Class A misdemeanor dealing in marijuana were dismissed.

The plea agreement also stipulates that Shannon cannot petition the court for a reduction or modification of his sentence.

Shannon's previous criminal history includes a conviction for Class D felony resisting law enforcement.

Shannon's charges stem from a March 10 incident in which he and David Kiger, 27, who was a guard at Putnamville Correctional Facility at the time, were working together to smuggle drugs and cell phones into the prison.

Following tips from a confidential informant, officers from the Indiana State Police began physical surveillance at the Cloverdale Truck Stop and an adjacent restaurant parking lot, court documents said, where they Shannon delivering controlled substances -- marijuana, cocaine and ecstasy tablets -- and a cell phone to Kiger.

Court documents said Shannon paid Kiger $130 to smuggle the items into the prison.

Kiger was sentenced to eight years with six years executed and two years suspended on Aug. 28. According to the Indiana Department of Corrections Web site, Kiger is still in the Putnam County Jail awaiting transfer to a DOC facility.