The case of a suspected meth dealer, who led officers on a pursuit in April of 2019, concluded this month after the suspect admitted his guilt and was sentenced. He’s now headed toward prison to serve 20 years.

Chad Featherston. Mug shot when he was booked in to serve sentence. Courtesy of Greene County Sheriff’s Department.

Chad Featherston of Linton was 45 at the time of his arrest on April 25, 2019. At the time, an Indiana State Police investigation into meth dealing had focused in on Featherston and when ISP Trooper Richard Klun attempted to stop Featherston near the Greene County Chapel off State Road 45 in eastern Greene County, Featherston fled and the chase began.

Several officers were involved and after traveling into Owen County, Featherston was apprehended in a field off McVille Road after he drove into the field and got his truck stuck. He was accused of being in possession of a quantity of methamphetamine and cash.

Featherstone was charged with:

Dealing in methamphetamine in an amount of 10 or more grams, a Level 2 felony,
Possession of methamphetamine in an amount of 28 or more grams, a Level 3 felony,
Criminal recklessness committed with a deadly weapon, a Level 6 felony,
Operating a motor vehicle after forfeiture of license for life, a Level 5 felony,
Resisting law enforcement – draws or uses a deadly weapon, a Level 6 felony, and
Possession of an altered handgun, a Level 5 felony.

Months later, Featherston entered into a negotiated plea agreement and was convicted of the first count, dealing in methamphetamine in an amount of 28 or more grams, a Level 2 felony, and the other counts were dismissed.

The length of Featherston’s sentence was fixed by the terms of the plea agreement which was accepted by the court.

So on June 10 in Greene Circuit Court, Judge Eric Allen sentenced Featherston, now 47 years old, to 20 years in the Indiana Department of Correction (DOC). No amount of that sentence was suspended, but Featherston was given credit for 106 days already served before the sentencing.

The court did recommend that Featherston be placed in the Purposeful Incarceration / Recovery Program within the DOC and if he successfully completes the program and substance abuse treatment, the court might consider a modification of the sentence.

Otherwise, under Indiana law, Featherston might get good time credit if eligible, but he must still serve 75 percent of his sentence which would be 15 years.

A couple of days after sentencing, Featherston reported to the Greene County Jail to begin serving his sentence.

He has since been transferred out, but before he goes to DOC, he’s been booked into the Monroe County Jail where another case has been pending against him. In Monroe County, he was charged with three counts of felony dealing methamphetamine, one count of felony meth possession and maintaining a common nuisance.

Featherston has changed his plea in that case and a change of plea hearing is scheduled in late July.

He also has a criminal case pending in Owen County.

To read a previous story about this case on GreeneStreets, click the tag “Chad Featherston” below this story.