Yesterday in court, a judge denied a Switz City man’s request for his bond to be reduced. In mid-June, he was one of two people arrested after a search of their Switz City home allegedly turned up illegal substances and drug paraphernalia. They said they were unemployed, but between the two of them, they were carrying over $5,600 in cash.

William Taylor Sexton, 28, and Crystal Lyn True, 41, both of Switz City, were arrested by Deputy Alan Jackson of the Greene County Sheriff’s Department early Thursday, June 18.

In mid-June, law enforcement had reason to believe drugs were being sold out of a house in Switz City and late Wednesday, June 17, officers were waiting for a search warrant to be approved by a judge when three people left the house and headed east toward Bloomfield. Around 10:45 p.m., they were pulled over in a traffic stop near the Greene County Fairgrounds on State Road 54.

In a probable cause affidavit prepared by Deputy Jackson, the investigating officer in this case, he indicated deputies determined the driver of the white Kia Forte was giving passengers Sexton and True a ride to buy cigarettes at a store in Bloomfield and the driver was later released. Sexton and True were arrested.

Officer Joe Riley of the Linton Police Department was on the scene to assist along with his K-9 partner Kona and when they conducted a free-air sniff around the vehicle, Kona alerted to the presence of an illegal substance.

The occupants of the vehicle were transported. The car was towed to the sheriff’s department then tacked on to the request for a search warrant.

Shortly after midnight, the search warrant was approved and by 12:30 a.m., officers were executing the search at Sexton and True’s residence located at 302 Fletcher Street in Switz City, and on the car.

Deputy Jackson reported officers located a long list of items including digital scales, metal tools, razor blades, various plastic bags, containers, syringes, cotton balls, metal spoons, smoking devices, cigarette papers and other paraphernalia plus substances believed to be marijuana and methamphetamine. They also located an H&R 32 cal. revolver handgun, a Beretta Nano 9 mm handgun with two loaded magazines and a Taurus Millenium 9 mm handgun.

In addition, during a weapons search when Sexton and True were booked into jail, Sexton was found to be carrying $4,221 in cash rolled into circular wads held together with a rubber band. Sexton allegedly said he was unemployed, the money came from unemployment, and he was going to buy a vehicle. When True was patted down, she was found to be carrying $1,400 in cash and she was also unemployed. The money that was seized is believed to have been obtained through drug sales.

By 4 a.m. on Thursday, June 18, both Sexton and True had been booked into the Greene County Jail and were held without bond pending court appearances in Greene Superior Court.

Sexton has since been charged with:

Possession of methamphetamine between five and ten grams, a Level 5 felony,
Unlawful possession of syringe, a Level 6 felony,
Maintaining a common nuisance, a Level 6 felony,
Possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor, and
Possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor.

True has since been charged with:

Possession of methamphetamine, a Level 5 felony,
Maintaining a common nuisance, a Level 6 felony,
Unlawful possession of syringe, a Level 6 felony,
Possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor, and
Possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor.

A public defender was appointed to represent True. Sexton retained a defense attorney from Bloomington.

Sexton’s bond was set at $19,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed. True’s bond was set at $25,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed. After the initial hearing, Sexton’s defense filed a motion for a bond reduction.

Yesterday, Tuesday, July 7, during a hearing on Sexton’s request for bond reduction, the defense asked for him to be released on his own recognizance. A prosecutor objected and the judge denied the request.

As of late Tuesday, July 7, the two have not yet posted bond and both Sexton and True remain in jail.