Drug dealer sentenced to 22 years

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Jeremy Wall, 36, Osgood, was sentenced by Ripley County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Sharp to 22 years in the Department of Corrections for dealing meth. He admitted to dealing up to an ounce of meth a day to four or five “lower-level” dealers in the community for about 30 days.

In a sentencing hearing held December 4, Ripley County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Shane Tucker argued for a significant and aggravated sentence. Tucker urged the Court to take into consideration Wall’s many prior convictions and probation violations that totaled eight felony convictions, seven misdemeanor convictions and three probation violations.

According to information from the prosecutor’s office, Wall was released from the Department of Corrections and placed on probation after being convicted of Battery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, a Level 5-felony, in Dearborn County. Tucker asked the judge to take this into consideration and the fact that Wall was on probation at the time of the offense and had only been out of prison for a few months before dealing meth.

Due to Wall’s prior criminal record, Judge Sharp said he is likely to reoffend, since he has a record of doing just that. According to court records, Wall was listed in the Very High Risk category to reoffend.

Judge Sharp noted that the aggravating circumstances outweighED the mitigating circumstances and he agreed with prosecution that an aggravated sentence is appropriate in this matter. The report noted, “The Defendant’s criminal convictions have escalated from misdemeanor offenses such as public intoxication and operation while intoxicated to dealing in methamphetamine. He has ignored conditions of probation and continued down the path that now has him facing a stiff sentence in prison.

In reference to Wall’s sentence, Prosecutor Ric Hertel stated, “I’m pleased with the outcome of this case and believe justice was served. I hope that this sentence will serve as a clear message that my office will continue to aggressively pursue those bringing drugs into our community.” Hertel also thanked the Indiana State Police for their thorough investigation of the case.