Only Camby man now facing drug charges in traffic-stop bust

Only one of three suspects arrested earlier this week when a half-pound of methamphetamine was found under the seat of the vehicle they were in now faces drug-related charges.

In Putnam Superior Court Friday, Daniel Sparks, 26, Camby, and Cody Gibson, 28, Bainbridge, appeared before Judge Denny Bridges for initial hearings relative to their Tuesday night arrests after Greencastle City Police stopped the 2003 Ford pickup Gibson was driving.

A third person originally held in the case, passenger Cheyanne N. Waller, 19, Cloverdale, is not being charged, the Putnam County Prosecutor's Office confirmed Friday.

Sparks, who told investigating officers that earlier that day he had stolen the 205 grams of meth from a West Side residence in Indianapolis, is now the only one of the three facing meth-related charges. He also said he took a .25-caliber Raven Arms handgun at the same time and place.

Judge Bridges entered not-guilty pleas on Sparks' behalf for dealing in methamphetamine, a Class B felony; possession of methamphetamine, a Class C felony; and possession of a handgun without a permit, a Class A misdemeanor.

In addition, Bridges noted that the state has filed paperwork to add another five years to any resulting sentence due to the possession of a handgun during the commission of a crime.

Sparks was ordered held on $30,000 cash bond. Public defender Joel Weineke was appointed to represent him with a pretrial conference set for 8 a.m. Nov. 13.

Meanwhile, with the onus of the meth possession and dealing in meth now just on Sparks, Gibson's charges have been reduced to a misdemeanor count of possession of a handgun without a license.

Gibson, who is being represented by Eddie Felling, also had a not-guilty plea entered on his behalf.

He was arrested a little more than 24 hours after being found guilty of reckless driving during a bench trial Monday in front of Judge Bridges.

Gibson faces a maximum sentence of 180 days in that case in which he struck a CSX train at the crossing on Round Barn Road (south of Crowe's Bridge) on June 28, 2102 after apparently fleeing a road rage incident in front of Taco Bell. His Pontiac Bonneville skidded more than 125 feet before striking the train, city officers reported at the time.

Gibson is due to be sentenced in the reckless driving case at 9 a.m. Oct. 9. A pretrial conference in the new case will precede that at 8 a.m.

His bond was set at $10,000 cash (with 10 percent allowable). If he posts bond, he will need to do weekly reporting to the Probation Department and submit to drug screens.

The GPD arrests were the result of a routine traffic stop about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday on the Clark gasoline station lot. In a subsequent search of the vehicle, police discovered 205 grams of methamphetamine (nearly a half-pound), two loaded handguns and approximately $1,700 in cash.

The incident unfolded as GPD Officer Matt Huffman noticed the black Ford pickup had an inoperable license plate light it turned off Jackson Street, eastbound onto Washington Street.