HANCOCK COUNTY — An Indianapolis man who was charged with dealing and possession of drugs in the county will not spend any more time in jail for his crimes. The bulk of a 12-year sentence will be served on formal probation after his case was settled via a plea agreement in Hancock County Circuit Court last week.
Erick M. Humphrey, 32, 500 block of Creston Rodge Court, was originally charged with a Level 3 felony count of dealing in a schedule I controlled substance; a Level 6 felony count of dealing marijuana; a Class A misdemeanor of possession of a controlled substance and a Class B misdemeanor possession of marijuana charge from an incident in October of 2021.
As part of the plea agreement accepted by Judge Scott Sirk on April 13, Humphrey had to admit guilt to the Level 3 felony charge, which can carry up to 16 years in prison. However, Humphrey’s total sentence was capped at 12 years, according to the plea agreement. At the recommendation of a pre-sentence report, Sirk sentenced Humphrey to three years to be executed through home detention with Hancock County Community Corrections with the remaining nine years suspended to formal probation.
Sirk told Humphrey he had to fully comply with the detailed recommendations of home detention and probation or suffer the consequences.
“I want to see you transform your life,” Sirk said.
Before the sentencing, Humphrey told the court he was truly sorry for his crimes and wanted to work hard to change his life. All the other counts against Humphrey were dismissed, the plea agreement stated.
According to a probable cause affidavit, a Fortville Police Department officer pulled Humphrey over in October of 2021 for an expired plate. When the officer tried to pull Humphrey over, he did not immediately stop and slowly came to a stop at Main and Ohio Street. The officer stated in the report that he could smell a strong odor of raw marijuana emitting from the vehicle.
A search of the vehicle turned up marijuana; mason jars with marijuana as well as Psilocybin, a scheduled control 1 substance; digital scales and more large mason jars filled with marijuana in the trunk, the affidavit said. A total weight of 96.37 grams of suspected marijuana was confiscated along with one small plastic bag which contained Psilocybin, total weight of 26.50 grams.
While the Fortville officer was searching the vehicle, Humphrey informed officials from the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department the officer must have found his mushrooms in the vehicle, the affidavit said.
