From the Decatur County Prosecutor’s Office –
Jerry Merrill, Jr. was sentenced on February 13 by Judge Tim Day in the Decatur Circuit Court, after pleading guilty on January 5 to Level 3 Felony Possession of Methamphetamine and admitting to being an Habitual Offender. The parties entered a plea agreement in which Merrill was sentenced to 15 years, with the judge to decide how much time should be in prison, home detention, or probation.
Because of the Habitual Offender allegation, at least six of the years had to be in prison, and Merrill’s counsel argued for six years in prison and nine years of probation. The State argued for all fifteen years to be executed to the Department of Correction, no probation, and the Recovery While Incarcerated (RWI) program. The Court ultimately adopted the State’s recommendation, sentencing Merrill to fifteen years, all in prison, and allowing for the RWI program.
The State was represented by Prosecuting Attorney Nate Harter in the case. Harter noted that Merrill’s criminal history includes several felonies: Conspiracy to Manufacture Methamphetamine as a B Felony; Dealing in Methamphetamine, a Level 4 Felony; Possession of Methamphetamine as a Level 6 and as a Class D Felony; Resisting Law Enforcement as a Class D Felony; and Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury as a D Felony.
“Mr. Merrill carried controlled substances into our community, and I’m grateful for the police work by the
Greensburg Police Department to intercept those drugs,” said Harter. “Because of Mr. Merrill’s longstanding addiction issues, he will have maximum accountability in prison to incentivize him to take treatment seriously.”
