Using the same yardstick, how many years would Rush get for the 30,000 illegal prescription pills he purchased?
20 Years Meted In Drug Case
By Jen Gibson, Times-Union Staff Writer
A Warsaw man convicted of drug charges Jan. 26 was sentenced to 20 years in prison in Kosciusko Superior Court I this morning.
Travis Johnson, 27, of 312 N. Sherman St., Warsaw, was convicted for dealing a schedule 2 controlled substance, a Class B felony, Jan. 26. The charges resulted from a Dec. 19, 2003, incident where Johnson sold two Oxycontin pills to a confidential informant. Oxycontin is a strong prescription pain medication that contains oxycodone.
The confidential informant and members of the Kosciusko County Drug Task Force testified against Johnson during the one-day jury trial when Johnson was convicted.
Kosciusko County Deputy Prosecutor Dan Hampton asked the court to sentence Johnson on aggravating circumstances, citing a ?lengthy list of criminal convictions.? Hampton then reminded the court of Johnson?s prior convictions for possession of marijuana and cocaine, possession of controlled substances and other charges.
Johnson?s girlfriend addressed the court and told Judge Duane Huffer, ?Since we?ve been together, both our lives have changed. We have grown and matured together. The last four months we have been trying so hard. ... Give him a chance.?
Johnson?s court-appointed attorney Brad Voelz addressed the court as well. ?Although the jury said (Johnson) is guilty, he maintains his innocence.?
Voelz added, ?This is not a violent offense. ... and it was not a large volume of drugs. ... It was two small pills.?
Voelz also attributed Johnson?s prior crimes to addiction to drugs.
?I have never been to counseling ever,? said Johnson. ?I was on probation one time and I did really good. I have never been given a chance.?
Johnson also said he never knew his father, had very little supervision from his mother and ran with the wrong crowd.
?I want to be a good person.? said Johnson. ?I wish I could have the chance to better myself and repay my debt to society. I want to go to college. ... It was just two little pills. ... This one time, please give me a chance. Please.?
Huffer then told Johnson,? You had the ability to help yourself and didn?t. ... In prison you have the opportunity to go to college.?
Huffer said he could not ignore the aggravators and sentenced Johnson to 20 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections. Johnson will receive credit for time served and good time credit totaling 204 days.
Johnson was remanded to the Kosciusko County Jail and has 30 days to file an appeal. The court appointed Michael Reed to be Johnson?s attorney for the appeal. A request for appeal bond was denied.
After the trial, a member of the drug task force took offense to the comments made regarding ?two little pills.?
?Those two little pills were really prescription pills,? he said. ?When people misuse them and take them without a prescription, they are not a safe drug.
?As for it not being a violent crime, drug dealing is a violent crime.?
20 Years Meted In Drug Case
By Jen Gibson, Times-Union Staff Writer
A Warsaw man convicted of drug charges Jan. 26 was sentenced to 20 years in prison in Kosciusko Superior Court I this morning.
Travis Johnson, 27, of 312 N. Sherman St., Warsaw, was convicted for dealing a schedule 2 controlled substance, a Class B felony, Jan. 26. The charges resulted from a Dec. 19, 2003, incident where Johnson sold two Oxycontin pills to a confidential informant. Oxycontin is a strong prescription pain medication that contains oxycodone.
The confidential informant and members of the Kosciusko County Drug Task Force testified against Johnson during the one-day jury trial when Johnson was convicted.
Kosciusko County Deputy Prosecutor Dan Hampton asked the court to sentence Johnson on aggravating circumstances, citing a ?lengthy list of criminal convictions.? Hampton then reminded the court of Johnson?s prior convictions for possession of marijuana and cocaine, possession of controlled substances and other charges.
Johnson?s girlfriend addressed the court and told Judge Duane Huffer, ?Since we?ve been together, both our lives have changed. We have grown and matured together. The last four months we have been trying so hard. ... Give him a chance.?
Johnson?s court-appointed attorney Brad Voelz addressed the court as well. ?Although the jury said (Johnson) is guilty, he maintains his innocence.?
Voelz added, ?This is not a violent offense. ... and it was not a large volume of drugs. ... It was two small pills.?
Voelz also attributed Johnson?s prior crimes to addiction to drugs.
?I have never been to counseling ever,? said Johnson. ?I was on probation one time and I did really good. I have never been given a chance.?
Johnson also said he never knew his father, had very little supervision from his mother and ran with the wrong crowd.
?I want to be a good person.? said Johnson. ?I wish I could have the chance to better myself and repay my debt to society. I want to go to college. ... It was just two little pills. ... This one time, please give me a chance. Please.?
Huffer then told Johnson,? You had the ability to help yourself and didn?t. ... In prison you have the opportunity to go to college.?
Huffer said he could not ignore the aggravators and sentenced Johnson to 20 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections. Johnson will receive credit for time served and good time credit totaling 204 days.
Johnson was remanded to the Kosciusko County Jail and has 30 days to file an appeal. The court appointed Michael Reed to be Johnson?s attorney for the appeal. A request for appeal bond was denied.
After the trial, a member of the drug task force took offense to the comments made regarding ?two little pills.?
?Those two little pills were really prescription pills,? he said. ?When people misuse them and take them without a prescription, they are not a safe drug.
?As for it not being a violent crime, drug dealing is a violent crime.?
