Indiana Criminal Defense Lawyer

The city of Evanston has taken it upon themselves to reduce penalties for people caught in possession of marijuana. While state law says you could serve up to 6 months in jail for the offense, Evanston city officials would rather ticket you than tax the already overburdened criminal justice system. [read more...]

Judges do have some considerable flexibility when it comes to sentencing people convicted of crimes. But one St. Joseph Superior court judge has found a way to gain even more control, not only over the initial sentence but if it is changed down the road. And for this an inmate says his rights have been toyed with and he is subsequently filing suit. [read more...]

Two bills are making forward progress in the Indiana State Legislature. One will examine if the state should consider marijuana legalization while another would make it more difficult to get the cold medications used in making methamphetamines. A balance of tightening control on one bill and loosening it on another. [read more...]

A man facing a litany of federal drug and gun charges is set to plead guilty next week in a case that has drug on for over two years. According to the Ft. Wayne Journal Gazette, the defendant will be looking at a 27 year sentence each on two separate charges and is expected to serve more than 25 years total behind bars. [read more...]

For the last five years, over the counter cold medicines containing the ingredient pseudoephedrine have been kept behind pharmacy counters. This regulation was passed in an effort to prevent the manufacturing of methamphetamine, of which pseudoephedrine is a necessary ingredient. A new system recently unveiled seeks to improve the way in which purchases of the ingredient are tracked. [read more...]

More and more we are seeing stories of addiction and crime in relation to prescription drugs in Indiana. The trend is growing across the nation as well, as more and more people develop problems with these often legally obtained substances. [read more...]

A recent news story delves into the world of mobile meth labs and the problems they are causing for law enforcement across the country, including in Indiana. According to the report, these meth labs are multiplying, leaving a trail of toxic litter along highways and making meth cookers even more difficult to catch. [read more...]

An Indiana county attracted national attention in a televised documentary about local difficulties with sale, production, and widespread use of meth (methamphetamine). [read more...]

Heroin was a big deal back in the 1970s and 80s. It is on the rise again as the drug becomes far more potent and pure than it once was, allowing people to get a strong high without injecting the drug intravenously.

Heroin is cheap and readily available. It is getting more popular among suburban teens and surrounding areas are seeing the effects. This article from the Indy Star details how the drug is experiencing resurgence.  At about $5 a high, heroin is much more affordable than many prescription drugs that are popular among recreational drug users. [read more...]

Methamphetamine labs are on the rise again in Indiana, according to this article from the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. 2008 saw the 2^nd highest total annual amount of meth lab busts in the state.

Why the Increase? Despite new laws regarding pseudoephedrine and the increased farmer security on anhydrous ammonia, meth labs grew. This is due, they say, to new production methods that don’t require the use of ammonia and are simpler than the former science lab looking methods.

What the police call “one pot” or “shake and bake” cooking is much simpler than the old recipes and produces smaller quantities. This does not mean labs are cooking less. On the contrary, they cook more to make up for the smaller batches.

With this new method and subsequent production increases, state police have exhausted their overtime funds in combating the problem. Officers are now being compensated with comp time instead and no doubt feeling the effects of long hours with little payoff. [read more...]