Convicted meth dealer sentenced to 15 years in prison

A Linton man accused of dealing methamphetamine last year turned down a plea deal and opted to take his case before a jury in September. He lost. Last Thursday he was sentenced to 15 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections.

Stephen Boger

Stephen R. Boger, 67, of Linton, was arrested in late May of 2017, accused of dealing methamphetamine in four transactions that police said occurred in March and April of 2017.

His bond was set at $50,000 surety with ten percent allowed. In early October of 2017, he was released from jail after posting $5,000 cash. He remained free on bond until the conclusion of his trial.

Boger was charged with:

• Count 1: Dealing in methamphetamine in an amount between one and five grams – a Level 4 felony

• Count 2: Dealing in methamphetamine, a Level 5 felony

• Count 3: Dealing in methamphetamine, a Level 5 felony

• Count 4: Dealing in methamphetamine, a Level 5 felony

Over a year after his arrest, as the case got closer to a trial date, Boger was offered a plea deal but he rejected the offer and instead chose to take his chances before a jury.

Last month, 12 jurors and two alternates were seated as the trial began on Tuesday, September 11.

By the end of the second day, the jury had returned verdicts of guilty on all counts.

Boger was remanded into the custody of the sheriff’s department, returned to jail, and the Greene County Probation Department was ordered to conduct a pre-sentence investigation report which was completed by October 5.

Last Thursday, October 11, Boger was back in Greene Superior Court for a sentencing hearing before Judge Dena Martin.

On Count 1, Boger was sentenced to 10 years and on Counts 2-4, the court found he should be sentenced to four years on each count with the sentences to be served consecutively, or one after the other. However, under Indiana law, in this case, the total of consecutive sentences should not exceed 15 years, so the sentences were adjusted.

In the end, Boger was sentenced to 10 years on Count 1; two years on Count 2; one year and 180 days on Count 3; and one year and 180 days on Count 4.

That’s a total of 15 years to serve in the Indiana Department of Corrections. He was given credit for 162 days already served. If eligible for good time credit, he will still be required to serve at least 75 percent of the time in DOC, or 11.25 years.