Suspect claims no recollection of alleged drug sales to officers

Friday, November 29, 2013

By ERIC BERNSEE

Editor

A 51-year-old Greencastle man, facing drug charges in three separate incidents over a three-month span more than two years ago, claims he has no idea what authorities are talking about.

Michael D. Sinclair appeared before Judge Denny Bridges in Superior Court Wednesday, having not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf by the judge to three counts:

-- Dealing in marijuana, a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a maximum fine of $5,000.

-- Dealing in Diazepam, a Schedule IV controlled substance, a Class B felony, punishable for 6-20 years in prison and a maximum $10,000 fine.

-- Dealing in Diazepam, a Schedule IV controlled substance, on or within 1,000 feet of a public park, a Class B felony, punishable for 6-20 years in prison and a maximum $10,000 fine.

The incidents for which Sinclair has been charged allegedly occurred on April 21, 2011, May 9, 2011 and June 28, 2011.

Although cautioned by Judge Bridges not to say anything in court that might incriminate him during the initial hearing, Sinclair more than once interjected, "I don't know what this is all about."

With the defendant facing two Class B felonies, the judge normally would have set bond at $30,000 cash. However, he agreed to allow Sinclair to post 10 percent, or $3,000 bond, in the case.

The court assigned Alan Lighty as a public defender to represent Sinclair, who was arrested at his Sycamore Street residence in Greencastle at 1:05 a.m. Nov. 24 by City Police Officer Matt Huffman.

In a probable cause affidavit filed in the case, Det. Anthony Portwood of the Indiana State Police Drug Enforcement Section detailed how an undercover Johnson County detective and a confidential informant met with Sinclair the first time in the parking lot of the Cloverdale Subway restaurant about 6:30 p.m. on April 21, 2011.

Sinclair allegedly sold the detective a "bag of plant material" he represented as marijuana for $20. He also gave the officer a white pill "and said he could have it at no cost," court documents note.

The white pill was later identified by the ISP laboratory as Lorazepam, a Schedule IV controlled substance. The lab also found the buy to be 3.01 grams of marijuana.

On May 5, 2011, the suspect reportedly met with the same two individuals near the pool at Robe-Ann Park in Greencastle about 7 p.m.

Sinclair reportedly agreed to sell the undercover officer 50 Valium tablets for $100. The substance was also analyzed by the ISP lab and found to be Diazepam, a Scheduled IV controlled substance.

Authorities allege that Robe-Ann Park was the scene of a third encounter between the suspect and the undercover officer and informant at about 6 p.m. June 29, 2011. They located Sinclair in a blue Chevrolet pick-up truck near the pool, which was open and had several children present.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Sinclair again agreed to sell 50 blue pills to the undercover officer for $100. Lab analysis revealed there were actually 51 pills, again determined to be Diazepam, a Schedule VI controlled substance.

The probable cause filed in court concludes by noting that Sinclair "did knowingly, on three separate occasions, sell Schedule IV controlled substances" to an undercover officer with two of the instances occurring at Robe-Ann Park.

All transactions were recorded by State Police on digital audio recorders, it was also noted.

No hearing date was set in the case.

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  • LOSER!!!

    -- Posted by donantonioelsabio on Fri, Nov 29, 2013, at 7:17 PM
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