Bond Reduction for Johnson

Saturday, September 25, 2010

GREENCASTLE -- After a bond reduction was granted, a Greencastle man accused of dealing marijuana was able to post bond and was released from the Putnam County Jail

Michael A. Johnson, 26, was arrested July 9 after his home was raided.

In the raid, police found just over a half-pound of "marijuana ready for distribution," court documents said.

Also found at the residence were seven live marijuana plants, the remains of a marijuana growing operation, a sandwich bag containing hallucinogenic mushrooms, a .380 caliber handgun, approximately 75 rounds of .380 ammunition, and several pipes and "bongs" believed to have been used for smoking marijuana.

At his initial hearing on July 12, Johnson was formally charged with Class C felonies dealing in marijuana and possession of a controlled substance and Class D felony maintaining a common nuisance.

Putnam County Circuit Court Judge Matthew Headley originally set Johnson's bond at $20,000 cash only. Johnson's attorney, Darrell Felling, requested a bond reduction for Johnson on Sept. 2.

On Sept. 16, Headley reduced Johnson's bond to $500, with the caveat that he would be required to be hooked up to electronic home monitoring. Headley also ordered that Johnson would be required to live with his mother while out on bond, and that he would have to contact Cummins Mental Health within one day of release to schedule an evaluation.

Bond for Johnson was posted late Thursday.

If convicted on all charges, Johnson could be sentenced to a maximum of 19 years in prison.

Johnson's next court date, a pretrial conference, is set for Jan. 6. Any plea agreement in the case must be filed by that date.

Should the case proceed to trial, it would begin on Jan. 19.

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  • His friends and family are full of dope addicts and criminals. This should turn out well...

    -- Posted by ProblemTransmission on Sat, Sep 25, 2010, at 9:44 AM
  • If I remember right Johnson lived within a few blocks of Ridpath. Another slap on the wrist.

    -- Posted by Thelastpaladin on Sat, Sep 25, 2010, at 1:29 PM
  • Tough crowd!

    -- Posted by 1stamendrights on Sat, Sep 25, 2010, at 3:39 PM
  • IT'S ALL ABOUT THE $$$$ PUTNAM COUNTY HAS NO DESIRE TO PUNISH THESE CRIMINALS! LET EM OUT SO THEY CAN BREAK MORE LAWS AND PAY MORE FINES! IT'S JOB SECURITY! AT LEAST THATS WHAT IT SEEMS TO BE.

    -- Posted by Redsonia on Mon, Sep 27, 2010, at 8:39 AM
  • Well, maybe they should not break the law. Duh

    -- Posted by Reader2 on Mon, Sep 27, 2010, at 9:24 AM
  • Wow people still say duh? Hahaha!

    ''If I remember right Johnson lived within a few blocks of Ridpath. Another slap on the wrist.''-- Posted by Thelastpaladin

    Although Indiana has the laws set up to increase the punishment for those caught w/drugs near school zones it seems they are not enforcing it. This is just one of many recent stories I have come accross where criminals are not ''paying the price'' for having drugs near our children. There recently was a woman in Roachdale arrested with a lot of marijuana plants she was growing within 1000 feet of not only a school but a public park as well. Her bond was set at $20,000 cash only. Within days her bond was reduced and 6 felony charges were dropped to only 1. She was out in about a week. Everone on the Roachdale PD was just braggin away about there big bust and how they were making such an impact, but know one was alerted when this drug pusher was allowed to go free w/a slap on the wrist! It's public record, see it for urself!

    -- Posted by itsaknownfact on Mon, Sep 27, 2010, at 11:20 AM
  • He must not have been a very good drug dealer if he couldn't scrape up $20K.

    -- Posted by Clovertucky on Tue, Sep 28, 2010, at 12:59 PM
  • A bunch of losers and now he has some girlfriend who apparently believes because he can't hear he's stupid as well.

    -- Posted by Care4 on Fri, Mar 18, 2011, at 11:44 AM
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