Four people who were facing criminal charges in Johnson and Shelby County courts have pled guilty and been sentenced on charges stemming from drug, sex crime and catalytic converter investigations, respectively.
The Daily Journal has previously reported on these cases and is sharing this update to give resolution to our earlier reporting on crime in the community.
Meth raid cases closed
Two Franklin residents who were arrested in a 2021 police raid on the Johnson-Shelby County line have pleaded guilty and been sentenced on drug charges.
Joseph Gamill, 53, pled guilty to dealing in cocaine or a narcotic drug, dealing in a narcotic drug and dealing in methamphetamine, all Level 3 felonies in Shelby County Superior Court 1 on Dec. 1. As part of a plea agreement, felony charges of meth dealing, corrupt business influence, trafficking with an inmate and possession of meth, along with a misdemeanor charge of possession of paraphernalia, were dismissed, according to online court records.
Angela Hayes, 45, pled guilty to meth possession, a Level 5 felony, in Shelby County Superior Court 1 on Dec. 1. As part of a plea agreement, felony charges of dealing in a narcotic drug and dealing in meth, along with a misdemeanor charge of possession of paraphernalia, were dismissed, online court records show.
Gamill was sentenced the same day to 10 years in prison, which will be served consecutively to a five-year sentence in a separate Shelby County case. Hayes was also sentenced the same day to six years in prison, which will be served consecutively to sentences in separate Johnson and Marion County cases, online court records show.
Both Gamill and Hayes were arrested in December 2021 along with two other people — Larry A. Lee and Paul Rose — following a police raid at a home near the Johnson-Shelby County line. Officers with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Shelbyville Police Department and Shelbyville Police SWAT Team were serving a search warrant at a home in the 8900 block of West State Road 44 when the four were arrested. The home had a Franklin address, according to a Shelbyville Police Department news release from around the time of the arrest.
Lee and Rose both pleaded guilty to charges earlier this year, and were sentenced accordingly.
2 years for child seduction
Robert Brian O’Neal, 57 of Greenwood, pled guilty to child seduction, a Level 6 felony, before Johnson County Superior Court 2 judge Peter Nugent on Nov. 17.
He was sentenced to two years, or 730 days, in jail, the majority of which — 728 days — was suspended to probation. He also received a one-day jail credit, meaning he was only incarcerated for one day, according to the sentencing order.
He is also required to register as a sex offender.
Greenwood police began investigating O’Neal after a victim came forward with sexual abuse allegations in January. The victim told police O’Neal had been inappropriate with her and asked her to do sexual acts to him since June 2021, according to a probable cause affidavit.
During the first incident, O’Neal had called the victim over to him to tell her he needed to be honest with her. O’Neal allegedly told the victim he liked her body and then fondled her. He then asked her to perform sexual acts on him, the affidavit says.
The victim told O’Neal she wouldn’t and tried to walk away. O’Neal blocked her path and continued to try to convince her to perform sexual acts before he made her pinky promise not to tell anyone. The victim told police she did not tell because she was scared, according to the affidavit.
O’Neal then tried to get the victim to perform sexual acts on him four other times over the next few months, and the victim told police he tried to guilt her into doing the acts. In one incident, O’Neal and the victim were in the car together when he asked her to “help him out,” and when she refused, he got angry at her, the affidavit says.
Near the beginning of January, the victim told a third party about what had been happening. The victim and the third party told the third party’s mother, who called police. While the victim spoke with police, O’Neal showed up to the third party’s Southport home after tracking the victim through the Life 360 app, according to the affidavit.
O’Neal told Southport police he had arrived at the home because the victim had not returned to her residence on schedule. He had looked on the app to see where she was, the affidavit says.
Shortly after this conversation, O’Neal told police he had asked the victim for sexual favors. O’Neal told officers on the scene he knew it was not right and was not thinking clearly. O’Neal then left the Southport residence, and the victim stayed, the affidavit said.
Catalytic converter sting
Latona D. Bryant, 31 of Columbus, pled guilty to a Class A misdemeanor before Johnson County Superior Court 3 judge Douglas Cummins on Nov. 3. As part of a plea agreement, a Level 6 felony charge of concealing a valuable metal purchase was amended to the misdemeanor charge, according to online court records.
For her sentence, Bryant will serve one year on probation, almost all of which was suspended. She received a one-day jail credit, and two days were executed, online court records say.
In February, Johnson County Sheriff’s Office deputies prepared to conduct an undercover transaction audit of Cats Plus, an Edinburgh recycling business. As part of the operation, two undercover detectives were given four component parts to sell, according to court documents.
Undercover detectives entered the building on Feb. 8 and were met by an employee who asked them to put the components in a cart. After they did so, the employee read off part numbers to another employee, later identified as Bryant, as she entered the numbers into a computer. Later the detectives were told to go to another window, where they again see Bryant, court documents say.
When the first transaction began, Bryant asked the undercover detectives if they had documents for the converters. The detectives gave her a handwritten bill of sale and registration, to which she said it can’t be handwritten. After getting additional information needed for the sale, all of which was handwritten, she gave the detective a receipt and $274, court documents say.
During a second transaction, Bryant asked an undercover detective if they had a bill of sale. The detective said they could write one up, and Bryant handed him a blank receipt and said to write who he bought it from and how many were bought. The undercover detective asked if he needed to list the price of the purchase, and Bryant said no. She then completed the transaction for $683, court documents show.
In both instances, detectives said Bryant failed to collect the legally required information in order to conduct a lawful transaction. This includes collecting a vehicle title, certificate of registration and a receipt from a repair transaction, among other items, according to court documents.
