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Chandler sentenced to serve 38 years
A convicted drug dealer from Terre Haute, who police believe had made sales in Putnam County, was ordered by a judge on Monday to serve 38 years in prison.
Mark A. Chandler, 47, Terre Haute, was sentenced to serve 40 years, with two years suspended, following an appearance before Putnam County Judge Matthew Headley Monday morning.
In May, a jury found Chandler guilty on charges of dealing in methamphetamines, possession of methamphetamines and possession of a switchblade knife.
Putnam County Prosecutor Tim Bookwalter said Tuesday that investigators in the case believed Chandler may have had customers in Putnam County, which may help explain why he was staying at a Cloverdale motel last August.
Just before his arrest last August, Chandler had rented a room at the Econolodge on U.S. 231, which is where police found 47 grams of what they believed was crystal meth and $1,500 in cash.
They became aware of Chandler after a woman, who was a friend of Chandler and was with him at the motel, approached a Putnam County sheriff's deputy at a nearby gas station and said Chandler had threatened to kill her because she refused his sexual advances.
The woman, who was not injured, approached then Sheriff's Deputy Virgil Lanning and referring to Chandler said, "He's trying to kill me."
Police officers searched Chandler's room at the motel where they found a set of scales, believed to be used in the sale of drugs, a bag containing white crystals and the cash. They found more suspected drugs, along with knive,s in Chandler's car.
"The amount of meth seized is very significant," Bookwalter said at the time of Chandler's arrest.
On Tuesday, Bookwalter said Chandler has at least five past felony convictions, which may have contributed to his lengthy sentence. The minimum sentence was 20 years and the maximum was 50 years.