Pearson pleads on drug charges

By Bev Woodruff, Staff Writer

A Union County man, arrested in February on multiple felony drug charges, has pleaded guilty to three felony charges.

Justin A. Pearson, 27, of Liberty was arrested on Feb. 13, after the Union County Sheriff’s Department and Indiana State Police executed a search at an apartment in the Panoramic Apartment complex. When officers arrived at the apartment, Pearson was not present. The apartment belonged to two other men and Pearson was reportedly staying with the men.

While conducting the search, officers discovered marijuana, paraphernalia, stolen weapons and a controlled substance. After the search began, Pearson arrived at the apartment. As officers were taking Pearson into custody, a search of Pearson revealed a syringe and a large amount of cash.

Charges against Pearson include the following: theft, as a Class D felony; four counts of receiving stolen property, as Class D felonies; possession of a controlled substance within a 1,000 feet of a school, as a Class C felony; seven counts of possession of paraphernalia, as Class B misdemeanors; possession of marijuana with a prior conviction, as a Class D felony; and dealing in a counterfeit substance, as a Class D felony. Pearson was being held in the UC Jail on a $55,500 bond.

UCSD deputies Dale Dishmond, Sean Tudor and Jeff Adams, and ISP officers Brian Hamilton and Rick Shoemaker, Jr. were involved in the investigation and arrest.

At some point, after he was arrested, Pearson told police he was selling drywall dust and claiming it was heroin.

Pearson pleaded guilty to possession of a schedule II controlled substance in a housing complex, as a Class C felony; dealing in a counterfeit substance, as a Class D felony; receiving stolen property, as a Class D felony; and possession of marijuana, as a Class D felony.

He was sentenced to four years on the Class C felony and two years were suspended. On the Class D felonies, he was sentenced to three years, with one year suspended. The sentences will run concurrently. Pearson was also fined $400 and ordered to repay $500 to the supplemental public defender’s fund. He was also ordered to make restitution to the victims.

Pearson received credit for 109 days served in the Union County Jail while awaiting disposition of the case.