Court confirms Alex man's 30-year drug charges sentence

Aug. 28—ANDERSON — The Indiana Court of Appeals has upheld the 30-year sentence of an Alexandria resident on several drug charges.

David Michael Jones, 67, was found guilty by a Madison Circuit Court Division 6 jury in 2023 on felony charges of dealing in methamphetamine, possession of meth and resisting law enforcement, as well as a misdemeanor charge of possession of a controlled substance.

Judge Mark Dudley sentenced Jones to serve an executed sentence of 30 years. The state's case was presented by deputy prosecutors Cathy Wilson and Matt Savage. Jones represented himself during the trial.

Detective Keith Gaskill with the Madison County Drug Task Force received information from a jail inmate that Jones was holding a woman against her will, according to a court document.

Officers set up surveillance at a property in the 2700 block of Mounds Road and observed Jones leaving on a motorcycle.

When officers tried to stop Jones, he rode the motorcycle onto the porch of the Mounds Road residence, police said. When he attempted to enter, Jones was "tazed" by officers.

A second man exited the residence without incident, along with a woman who appeared to be distraught, according to the document.

Officers found $2,546 in cash on Jones and several baggies containing methamphetamine, the document reported.

In his appeal, Jones said the local court erred in admitting the drugs into evidence and violated his rights by entering his house.

The Court of Appeals ruled the admission of the drugs found in Jones residence was lawful following his arrest for resisting law enforcement.

"Officers were investigating a report that Jones was holding (a woman) against her will, and when they arrived at Jones's trailer, the circumstances only confirmed their concerns," the court ruling reads.