Sentencing set for trafficker

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

An Indianapolis woman will be sentenced July 2 for attempting to pass drugs to a Putnamville Correctional Facility inmate.

Lynette Lauderdale, 22, was originally charged with Class C felony trafficking with an inmate, Class D felony attempted trafficking with an inmate outside a facility and Class A misdemeanor possession of marijuana. Under the terms of a plea agreement, Lauderdale pled guilty to the Class D felony, and the other two charges will likely be dismissed.

Lauderdale was arrested after a Jan. 4 incident in which she attempted to pass marijuana to John Shirley, 26, during a visit at the Putnamville State Farm.

Shirley is serving an 8-year prison sentence in connection with a 2007 Marion County conviction for Class B felony possession of cocaine or a narcotic drug. The Indiana Department of Correction Web site lists Shirley's earliest possible release date as April 27, 2013.

Court records said Lauderdale came to visit Shirley on Jan. 4, and that she brought along the 5-year-old son the two share.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, Lauderdale purchased a bag of chips from a vending machine during the visit, then proceeded to empty the bag and place a small baggie of marijuana in the chip bag, which she then tried to pass to Shirley.

DOC supervisors witnessed Lauderdale's actions and seized the bag, but Lauderdale managed to extract the drugs and tuck them into her pants, court documents said. Eventually, Lauderdale handed the drugs over to officers.

Lauderdale was arrested the day of the incident. On Jan. 7 she posted 10 percent of a $10,000 bond, and has been out of jail ever since.

A Class D felony is punishable by up to three years in prison.

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