Convicted meth dealer sentenced to 20 years in prison
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Edward Dean Long
On Thursday afternoon, Edward Dean Long, 42, of Jasonville, was sentenced to 20 years in prison. In early June, a jury found him guilty of dealing methamphetamine, with a gun in his possession. No part of the sentence, handed down by Judge Erik Allen in Greene Circuit Court, was suspended. Long will be eligible for good time credit but since his crime is a Level 2 felony, he must serve at least 75 percent of the time – that’s 15 years.
When Long got pulled over last summer in eastern Greene County, he got a written warning for failure to use a turn signal. He didn’t have a driver’s license, so the vehicle had to be towed, and inventoried. They found drugs, and a gun.
On June 5, the case went to trial by jury in Greene Circuit Court, also with Judge Erik Allen presiding.
To conclude the two-day trial, the jury found Long guilty of dealing in methamphetamine in an amount between five and ten grams, with an enhancing circumstance, a Level 2 felony; and knowingly or intentionally operating a motor vehicle without ever receiving a license, a Class C misdemeanor; and due to a past conviction, unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, a Level 4 felony.
During the trial and the sentencing hearing, Greene County Prosecutor Jarrod Holtsclaw presented the case for the state and Greene County Deputy Public Defender Ellen Martin represented the defendant.
Long’s criminal history includes convictions in Monroe County in 1999 for forgery, a Class C felony, and dealing in cocaine, a Class B felony – a conviction that causes him to be considered a serious violent offender that is not permitted to be in possession of a handgun.
The possession of a handgun when he was arrested, along with a quantity of methamphetamine, is considered an enhancing circumstance to Count 1.
Court records indicated that prior to the trial, the prosecution offered to negotiate a deal but Long turned it down. During a hearing on May 16, he was again advised of the offer which he rejected.
After his arrest, Long was able to make bail and has been awaiting trial while out on bond. Following the jury verdicts, Long was remanded into the custody of the Greene County Sheriff and has remained in the Greene County Jail while waiting to be sentenced.
During the sentencing hearing on Thursday, Long got 20 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections on Count 1 – the meth dealing charge. He was given credit for 75 days already served, no time was suspended, but he’s eligible for good-time credit – he must serve 75 percent of the sentence, or 15 years. On the second count, of operating a vehicle without a license, Long got 60 days in the county jail to be served concurrently/at the same time as the 20 years on Count 1.
