On Thursday morning in Greene Superior Court, a 25-year-old Linton man was sentenced to 2.5 years. When he was arrested in late March and on his way to jail in the back of a patrol vehicle, he kicked the back of a deputy’s seat numerous times, kicked the console, yelled profanities, then he kicked the deputy in the shoulder.

Dustin A. Snowden has been convicted of battery on a public safety official, a Level 6 felony.

Snowden was arrested during a traffic stop on March 27.

Greene County Sheriff’s Deputy Alan Jackson and Sgt. Bobby Pierce were in the area of Wampler Lake campgrounds in Greene-Sullivan State Forest on that day when they noticed a white four-door passenger car leaving at a high rate of speed. They followed. They saw the interior dome light turn on momentarily then turn back off while the vehicle was in motion. Then the vehicle failed to use a turn signal and the officers initiated a traffic stop.

Snowden was the driver, traveling with a female passenger.

In a detailed affidavit, Jackson explained a lengthy stop as officers learned that something had been thrown out of the vehicle after Snowden noticed the officers traveling behind him.

Officers were able to recover the thrown object, a camouflage container Jackson said contained a substance that tested positive as methamphetamine, syringes, plant material that tested positive as marijuana, a smoking device, copper metal mesh filters and other items.

During interviews, the passenger said Snowden asked her to open her door and he threw the container out. But, Snowden said she did it.

The passenger left the scene in the custody of a Sullivan County Sheriff’s Deputy – she had an active warrant out for her arrest in Sullivan County.

Snowden was taken into custody and transported to the Greene County Jail by both Jackson and Pierce.

Deputy Jackson wrote, “Sgt. Pierce and I transported Dustin to the Greene County Jail. During the transport, Dustin showed aggression towards Sgt. Pierce and me by yelling profanity and threatening to fight. Dustin kicked the back of Sgt. Pierce’s seat multiple times.

“Sgt. Pierce warned Dustin that he could possibly be charged with intimidation or assaulting a law enforcement officer if he did not stop his actions and control his anger.

“Dustin proceeded to kick my center console and then lifted his right leg and kicked Sgt. Pierce in the right shoulder.

“Dustin showed signs of sporadic abusive behavior both during his transport and at the Greene County Jail.”

Snowden was booked in by Deputy Jackson and has been incarcerated since that day while awaiting trial.

But in late April, Snowden agreed to plead guilty to the battery on the deputy. Other initial drug charges were dismissed. Those charges had included felony possession of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of a syringe, and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, and possession of paraphernalia – all charges relating to the container that was tossed out the vehicle.

Court records show that in Greene County, Snowden was convicted in 2016 of resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, a Level 6 felony, and convicted in 2017 of battery, a Class B misdemeanor.

In addition, there’s another case currently pending against Snowden in Marion County where he’s been charged with battery by bodily waste on a public safety officer, a Level 6 felony, and battery by bodily waste, a Class B misdemeanor.

On Thursday, with Greene County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Keven McIntosh representing the State and Greene County Deputy Public Defender Ellen Martin representing the defendant, Snowden appeared before Judge Dena Martin for sentencing.

Snowden was given 2.5 years in the Greene County Jail, but may serve on work release if he’s eligible. He was given credit for 66 days already served.