Smoot could face up to 50 years

A Greencastle has entered a guilty plea to a charge of Class A felony dealing in cocaine.

Michael Smoot, 45, will be sentenced by Putnam County Circuit Court Judge Matthew Headley on April 2. A Class A felony is punishable by up to 50 years in prison.

Smoot, who initially said he would defend himself against the charge, is now being represented by public defender James Recker. A warrant for Smoot was issued on March 27, 2008, but he eluded police and was not arrested or arraigned until October.

Bond for Smoot was set at $50,000 cash, and a bond reduction request was denied on Nov. 13.

According to court documents, Putnam County Sheriff's Department officers met with a confidential informant on March 22, 2008. The informant said he was "willing to make a controlled buy" at Smoot's home.

The informant told officers he had heard Smoot "had just gotten into town with a load of cocaine to sell," and that Smoot had already offered to sell him cocaine if the informant would come to Smoot's house.

The informant was fitted with a wire and given $200 in cash to make the buy. He was followed by two officers to Smoot's home.

The informant entered Smoot's home, where he purchased nine bags of cocaine. Officers were also able to capture a sale to another subject through the informant's wire.

Later that same evening, members of the Greencastle ERT Team served a search warrant on Smoot's home, but by the time they got there Smoot -- and the drugs -- were gone.