Kevin James Perry, 31, Indianapolis
HANCOCK COUNTY — An Indianapolis man who officials say has a criminal background was facing up to 12 years in prison for having a gun in his possession during a traffic stop. The man had his case settled last week in Hancock County Superior Court 1 when a plea agreement was accepted.
Kevin James Perry, 31, 3100 block of North Butler Avenue, was charged with a Level 4 felony count of unlawful possession of a firearm by serious violent felon and a Class B misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana from an incident in October 2022.
According to court records, Perry had to admit guilt to Count 1 and the state State dismissed the other charge. Perry was given a five-year total sentence with two years to be executed at the Indiana Department of Corrections. All the other remaining time, the three years, are to be suspended to Hancock County Probation.
As for the arrest, according to a probable cause affidavit, an officer from the McCordsville Police Department observed a red Chevrolet Impala pass his patrol vehicle in the 5500 block of West Broadway traveling eastbound. Once the vehicle passed, the officer noticed the Impala had a broken driver’s side tail light and the tail light was emitting a white light to the rear of the vehicle. The officer also observed the Impala did not have a license plate light illuminating the license plate.
The officer also noted the driver was speeding, traveling 54 mph in a 40 mph zone, the report said. Once pulled over, the officer noticed the smell of marijuana in the vehicle. After running a check on the driver, identified as Perry, the officer noted Perry was on parole for robbery, the report stated.
Officials from Ingalls arrived on the scene, searched the vehicle and located a handgun, a Ruger 57, sitting under the driver’s seat. The handgun magazine had 22 rounds, officials said in the report. Officers also found a plastic bag containing a green and leafy plant-like substance, 15.24 grams, in a backpack, the report stated.
