***MEDIA ADVISORY***

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 24, 2016

METHAMPHETAMINE AND PILL DEALER FOUND GUILTY IN LESS THAN ONE HOUR

Media Contact: Curtis T. Hill, Jr. (574) 296-1888

On June 22, 2016, an Elkhart Circuit Court jury deliberated less than one hour to find Terry Abbott guilty of Dealing in Methamphetamine, a Level 2 felony, Dealing in a Schedule II Controlled Substance, a Level 2 felony, Dealing in a Schedule IV Controlled Substance, a Level 3 felony, and Possession of a Handgun With Obliterated Identification, a Level 5 felony.

In March and April of 2015, the Elkhart County ICE Unit (Interdiction Covert Enforcement Unit) received a tip that Terry Abbott was dealing drugs in Elkhart. Using a confidential source, law enforcement officers set up two “controlled buys” from Terry Abbott, during which, Terry appeared to sell Alprazolam (Xanax) pills and methamphetamine. After the two buys, officers obtained a search warrant for Terry Abbott’s home.

On April 15, 2015, multiple ICE Unit officers executed the search warrant finding an overwhelming amount of drugs inside Terry Abbott’s home. In nearly every room of the house, officers located multiple bags of methamphetamine, hundreds of prescription pills including Xanax and Adderall, digital drug scales, empty plastic baggies, and over $9,000.00 in cash. Terry Abbott was carrying over $6,000.00 in his pants pocket. Officers found four firearms, one of which had a scratched out serial number. Officers also discovered a safe in Terry Abbott’s bedroom containing more drugs, drug paraphernalia, and cash.

Over the course of three days, jurors reviewed dozens of pieces of evidence that ultimately convinced them Terry Abbott was an avid drug dealer. The state of Indiana, represented by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Eric Ditton, argued to the jury that the police found a cornucopia of drugs and drug paraphernalia that all pointed toward Terry Abbott being a drug dealer, and not a mere drug user. The testimony of the State’s skilled law enforcement witnesses helped the jury understand the sheer volume of drugs in Terry Abbott’s home meant he was dealing those drugs. In addition, the State presented video evidence of the two prior drug deals that took place in Terry Abbott’s home.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 21, 2016, before Judge Terry Shewmaker. If all four counts are ordered to be served concurrently, Terry Abbott faces thirty (30) years in the Indiana Department of Correction.

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“Under Indiana law, all persons arrested for a criminal offense are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”