By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

Kyle Steven Ousley

WARSAW — A Pierceton man will serve eight years in prison on two drug cases.

In the first case, Kyle Steven Ousley, 29, Pierceton, was charged with dealing methamphetamine, a level 3 felony. He was also charged with possession of methamphetamine, a level 5 felony, in a second case. Three criminal charges, as well as an additional methamphetamine dealing case, were all dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

Ousley was sentenced in Kosciusko Circuit Court on Monday, June 20.

On Sept. 23, 2020, a Pierceton Police officer was in the area of CR 250E and US 30 when he was informed by a NET43 unit about a vehicle failing to signal a lane change. The officer pulled the vehicle over and identified Ousley as a passenger.

According to court documents, a K9 unit at the scene alerted to illegal drugs in the vehicle. While searching the vehicle, officers found several small bags containing methamphetamine. The total weight of the methamphetamine was 18.1 grams.

In a Kosciusko County Jail call, the vehicle’s driver called Ousley about the incident. Ousley asked how they got caught with so much and said he didn’t realize they had a large amount of drugs on them.

On Oct. 8, 2020, a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office detective sergeant was attempting to serve a warrant on Ousley at a residence. Ousley gave officers permission to search the property and he said there was meth in a safe under a workbench in a garage.

Officers found a total of 34.4 more grams of meth.

During court proceedings, Defense Attorney Jay Rigdon said Ousley has the ability to work and previously served in the National Guard. He requested the court structure Ousley’s sentence to help him “reach his potential and become a productive member of society.”

Ousley said two of his relatives recently passed away and that he used methamphetamine “to escape how I felt.”

“I can be a good person,” said Ousley. “I just need a chance.”

For dealing methamphetamine, Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Michael Reed sentenced Ousley to six years in the Indiana Department of Correction. Ousley also received a two-year sentence for methamphetamine possession. Both cases will be served consecutively to each other and also consecutively to a methamphetamine possession case out of Whitley County.

Ousley also has 235 days of jail time credit, plus good time credit as calculated. He was recommended for placement in DoC’s Recovery While Incarcerated program.

In total, Ousley received an eight-year DoC sentence.

“Using drugs is only a temporary escape,” said Judge Reed. “You put yourself through a mess. Take advantage of what opportunities are given to you.”