HANCOCK COUNTY — Several defendants facing serious felony charges had their cases settled this week through plea agreements.
Judge Scott Sirk handed down the sentences Tuesday, Dec. 1, in Hancock County Superior Court 1.
Raney Shay Jones, 29, Greenfield, was given a nine-year sentence with four years to be served in prison for a Level 4 felony count of dealing methamphetamine.
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Five years of the term will be suspended to supervised probation. Three other charges, including a Level 3 felony count of dealing methamphetamine, were dismissed as part of the plea agreement. The average sentence for a Level for Level 4 felony is six years, indicating Jones received a harsher-than-normal sentence due to the severity of the whole case against him, officials from the prosecutor’s office said.
Even with time served and good behavior, Jones will still spend several years in prison, prosecutor Brent Eaton said.
Jesse Hicks, 22, Indianapolis, was given a 10-year term by Sirk for drug-related crimes. Two years are to be executed; two years will be served through community corrections; and six years will be suspended. Four of the six years that were suspended will be served through supervised probation.
Hicks pleaded guilty to a Level 4 felony charge of possession of methamphetamine. As part of the plea agreement, three other charges, including a Level 2 felony count of dealing methamphetamine, were dismissed.
Sao Sorsor, 19, Indianapolis, was given a three-year prison term by Sirk as part of an agreement in which Sorsor pleaded guilty to a Level 3 felony count of armed robbery. The charge could have carried a sentence of up to 16 years. However, prosecutors noted Sorsor had no previous adult criminal history. Three Class A misdemeanors were dismissed.
