HANCOCK COUNTY — A man facing a lengthy prison sentence for felony gun and drug crimes ended up seeing most of the charges dismissed after a plea deal was accepted in Hancock County Circuit Court last week.
Tevin Edwards, 27, Indianapolis, was sentenced to three years in the Indiana Department of Correction, with two to be spent in prison, after he pleaded guilty to a lesser Level 5 felony charge of carrying a handgun without a license with a prior conviction. A more serious charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and three other lesser charges were dropped. The more serious charge against Edwards could have carried a sentence of up to 14½ years in prison.
The sentence was handed down in Hancock County Circuit Court by Judge Scott Sirk on Tuesday, Dec. 3. Prosecutors and Edwards’ attorneys agreed to the deal. The county’s probation department objected to the agreement.
During his sentencing hearing, Edwards told the court he took full responsibility for his actions. According to a probable cause affidavit, Edwards was arrested and charged on Sept. 29, 2018, after he and a woman, Krysean Hooper of Odin, Illlinois, were pulled over for a traffic violation in Greenfield. Edwards argued with officers and refused to consent to a search.
When officers finally completed a search, officers found a loaded handgun and marijuana in the car. Some of the marijuana appeared to be packaged for distribution.
Hooper ended up pleading guilty to a Level 6 felony charge of possession of methamphetamine; a Level 5 felony count of carrying a handgun with a prior felony conviction and two misdemeanors were dismissed. Court records indicate she was sentenced in October to serve 365 days of home detention through the Hancock County Community Corrections Department.
