Franklin man facing high-level drug dealing charges

A Franklin man is facing high-level drug dealing charges after police say he sold methamphetamine three times in March.

Steven B. Heady, 51, was charged with two counts of dealing methamphetamine with an amount of 10 or more grams, one count of dealing a Schedule I controlled substance with an amount between 10-28 grams, one count of dealing methamphetamine with an amount between 1-5 grams, and one count of dealing in methamphetamine, all Level 5 felonies or higher. If convicted and if all charges are served consecutively, he faces a term of between 1-94 years in prison.

The charges stem from a Franklin Police Department investigation into Heady and another man, who has not been charged. This man has not yet been charged with a crime, so he will be referred to as “the man.”

The first deal took place in early March after narcotics detectives were informed the man had meth for sale. The man had previously sold a police informant drugs at his Young Street home in Franklin, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Johnson County Superior Court 3 on May 9.

The police were told that Heady supplies the man with drugs. Heady was known to police because Franklin police had previously arrested Heady and another man, Gerry Anthony Lucas, after a September investigation, according to the affidavit.

Officers believed Heady was the supplier of meth for the deal, so they set up surveillance both at the man’s home and Heady’s home. Police saw the man exit the Young Street home and get into a truck driven by Heady. Officers then observed Heady grab a baggie from his visor and hand it to the man. Officers later discovered that Heady was driving with a suspended license, the affidavit says.

An hour or so later, the man completed the transaction. At this time, another purchase request was made and the man fulfilled it, the affidavit says.

Later, police pulled over Heady and arrested him on charges of driving while suspended. They also found marked buy money that Franklin police supplied for the transaction, according to court documents.

The second drug buy took place two days later. Officers observed Heady selling an informant meth at two businesses on Morton Street, according to the affidavit.

During the third deal in late March, police observed Heady selling an informant mushrooms and meth, the affidavit says.

Heady did not immediately have the full amount of meth the informant requested. So, later that day Heady told the informant to meet him at a restaurant on Morton Street to receive the rest of the meth. In the parking lot, Heady handed the informant two bags of crystal-like substance later determined to be meth, the affidavit says.

Heady was booked into the Johnson County jail Tuesday evening on a $30,000 bond. An initial hearing has not been set.