Press Release

March 1, 2010

-Princeton-

Bradley J. Turner, age 37, Princeton, was sentenced today in Gibson Circuit Court to eleven (11) years in the Indiana Department of Corrections after admitting he possessed methamphetamines within 1000’ of Princeton Community Middle School.  Turner also pled guilty to Possession of Paraphernalia and Trespassing, both Class A misdemeanors. 

On September 9, 2009, Princeton Police Officers responded to a call that a male subject was passed out in a white truck located at Bonkerz’s Convenience Store; 315 E. Broadway; Princeton.  PPD Sgt. Steve McNeece found Bradley Turner passed out in the driver’s side seat and attempted to wake him.  McNeece noted in his affidavit for probable cause that Turner was startled to the point of screaming when he woke up.  While getting Turner out of the truck, McNeece observed in plain view an open cigarette pack with a glass pipe inside it.  Turner admitted to McNeece he had smoked meth the previous evening and that he presently had some meth in one of his socks.  McNeece later measured the distance from the driver’s side door of the truck where Turner was sitting to the west side of Princeton Community Middle School.  The distance measured 718.2 feet, causing the D felony meth possession charge to be enhanced to the B felony charge of Possession of Methamphetamines in, on, or within 1000’ of a School.

The plea agreement reached with Gibson County Prosecutor Robert Krieg called for Turner to receive the B felony advisory sentence of ten (10) years with an additional one (1) year of consecutive time to be served for an unrelated Trespassing charge.  In that matter, Turner was found on the property of Dudley Wright, who had posted “No Trespassing” signs on his property after having two of his motorcycles stolen in the past.

Krieg stated that this conviction was the second B felony meth conviction obtained in one day (Joseph Thomas), and that the prosecution of these matters and stiff sentences handed out show his office remains serious in its efforts to combat the meth epidemic that has plagued his and other rural counties.  Krieg also praised the efforts of the Princeton Police Department, who investigated both matters.

PRINCETON MAN GETS 11YEARS FOR POSSESSING METH NEAR SCHOOL (Turner)