June 2, 2013
06/03/13 Shawn T. Speirs, 41, of Plymouth was sentenced on May 9, 2013 in Marshall Superior Court No. 1 to 10 years imprisonment for his role in assisting the sale of methamphetamine to an undercover informant.
Judge Robert O. Bowen approved an agreement reached between Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Nelson Chipman and defense attorney Douglas N. Hite, which provided for a sentence at the Indiana Department of Corrections of 10 years of imprisonment. Two years of the sentence was suspended. Speirs will be placed on two years of reporting probation after his release from prison, and he is required to testify truthfully against any co-defendants.
The case began when Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Hollopeter, then a member of the Marshall County Undercover Narcotics Investigative Team, observed on October 21, 2012 suspicious drug making activity at a home located in the 5000 block of 18th Road. Included in his observations was the strong aroma of ammonia emitting from the home. This smell is commonly associated with the manufacturing of methamphetamine.
Nothing more happened on the case until December 27 when an informant notified Officer Hollopeter that a resident of the same house on 18th Road wanted to sell methamphetamine. A controlled buy was then arranged and completed with that resident.
A second controlled buy of methamphetamine was initiated and completed on January 13, 2013 at the same location and with the same resident. This time an individual later identified as Shawn Speirs assisted in the sale of methamphetamine. Speirs admitted in open court that it was indeed him that assisted in the transaction on January 13. As part of his agreement with the prosecution, Speirs will testify truthfully against other co-defendants.
Chipman credit Officer Hollopeter for his persistence after first discovering the house on 18th Road and thoroughly investigating and preparing the case to a successful conclusion.