Nearly a dozen people arrested in a drug roundup conducted last summer have been sentenced on a variety of drug charges.
Last August, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, along with police in Edinburgh, Franklin and Greenwood executed 21 warrants for people who had allegedly committed drug crimes in the county. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office served seven warrants for Indianapolis residents wanted in connection to drug crimes in Johnson County.
The warrants were the direct result of the ongoing investigative efforts of the sheriff’s office, and Franklin and Greenwood police departments. This team is dedicated to tackling the issues of illegal narcotics in and around Johnson County, Sheriff Duane Burgess said in a press release at the time.
A total of 34 people were wanted during the roundup, with 23 arrested at the time of the announcement last year. Two additional arrests were made after police identified additional drug crimes during the course of the roundup.
The Daily Journal previously reported about these cases and is sharing this update to give resolution to earlier reporting on crime in the community.
Lance Hamner, Johnson County prosecutor, said he is pleased the sentences have largely resulted in jail time or some type of active probation.
“A number of the serious drug dealers in our drug sting received strong sentences to further drive home the point that criminals bringing crime to Johnson County will bring themselves right into the Indiana prison system,” said Hamner said. “Billy Buchanan received a sentence of 15 years in prison; Shelby Abner received nine years; Jason Litson received six years; Coy Miller received five years; Anthony Sewell received four years. Each of these drug dealers received substantial prison sentences. As I’ve said before, I hope they go to prison and tell their friends. This is not where you want to deal drugs.”
Here’s how the 11 cases that have been resolved so far have turned out.
Shelby R. Abner, 29, of Indianapolis. Charged with dealing methamphetamine as a level 2 felony and dealing narcotics as a level 5 felony.
Resolution: Pled guilty to all charges on Jan. 4 in Johnson Superior Court 2. She was sentenced to 17.5 years, of which nine years were ordered to be served in prison, with a 96-day credit; 8.5 years of sentence are suspended to probation, with three years on active probation; also ordered to pay $300 in restitution to JCSO.
Maya Bruno, 19, of Camby. Charged with two counts of dealing meth, a level 4 felony.
Resolution: Pled guilty to all charges on Feb. 1 in Johnson Superior Court 2. She was sentenced to six years, all of which were suspended to probation with two years to be on active probation; also ordered to participate in Johnson County Behavioral Health Court following the completion of a recovery program.
Billy J. Buchanan, 27, of Indianapolis. Charged with two counts of dealing in meth a level 2 felony, and one count each of dealing narcotics as a level 3 felony, and dealing narcotics as a level 4 felony.
Resolution: Pled guilty to all charges on Sept. 18, 2023, in Johnson Circuit Court. He was sentenced on Oct. 16, 2023, to 16 years in prison with a jail credit of 68 days; also ordered to pay $270 in restitution to JCSO and was recommended for a recovery program.
Donald G. Dowden, 49, of Edinburgh. Charged with two counts of dealing meth as a level 4 felony and possession of meth as a level 6 felony.
Resolution: Pled guilty to all charges in two separate cases on Oct. 19, 2023, in Johnson Superior Court 3. He was sentenced to eight years in prison; also ordered to pay $130 in restitution to JCSO. He previously served 71 days in jail.
Mason E. Hernandez, 23, of Greenwood. Charged with dealing a controlled substance as a level 5 felony, two counts of dealing in hash oil as a level 6 felony, and two counts of dealing marijuana as a misdemeanor.
Resolution: Pled guilty to all charges on Jan. 24 in Johnson Superior Court 2. He was sentenced to three years with almost all of his sentence, excluding one day, was suspended to probation. First 365 days of probation on home detention/GPS monitoring, and was ordered to under substance abuse evaluation; also has to pay $310 in restitution to FPD.
Jason E. Litson, 47, homeless. Charged with dealing meth as a level 4 felony.
Resolution: Pled guilty on Oct. 19, 2023, in Johnson Superior Court 2. He was sentenced to six years in prison after previously serving 72 days in jail and was ordered to pay $100 in restitution.
Coy A. Miller, 24, of Edinburgh. Charged with dealing meth as a level 4 felony.
Resolution: Pled guilty on Oct. 19, 2023, in Johnson Superior Court 2. He was sentenced to five years in prison after previously serving 91 days in jail; charges to be served consecutively to sentences in other pending cases; also ordered to pay $100 in restitution.
Brian Michael Nelson, 56, of Franklin. Charged with possession of meth as a level 6 felony, and possession of paraphernalia as a misdemeanor.
Resolution: Pled guilty to all charges on Nov. 9, 2023, in Johnson Circuit Court. He was sentenced to 200 days in jail with a credit of 93 days for time already served. The sentence was ordered to be served after a sentence in another criminal case.
Anthony M. Sewell, 45, of Shelbyville. Charged with two counts of dealing in meth as a level 5 felony, and additional charges of visiting a common nuisance and possession charges for meth, a syringe, and paraphernalia.
Resolution: Pled guilty on Oct. 5, 2023, to meth dealing charges in Johnson Superior Court 2, with other charges dismissed. He was sentenced to four years in prison after previously serving 93 days in jail.
Brian S. Stewart, 47, of Franklin. Charged with dealing meth as a level 2 felony, resisting law enforcement as a level 6 felony, habitual traffic violator as a level 6 felony, possession of a syringe as a level 6 felony, and possession of marijuana as a misdemeanor.
Resolution: All charges were dismissed on Aug. 28, 2023. Hamner said the charges were dismissed because Stewart passed away.
Vanessa Volk, 44, of Franklin. Charged with possession of meth as a level 6 felony and possession of paraphernalia as a misdemeanor.
Resolution: Pled guilty to all charges on Dec. 7, 2023, in Johnson Circuit Court. She was sentenced to 430 days in jail, 180 days of which were to be executed to home detention and 250 days suspended to active probation. The sentence is to be served consecutively to charges in another criminal case.
Editor’s note: A clarification was added to this story regarding why Brian Stewart’s charges were dismissed.
