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Last updated on Thursday, April 24, 2014
(BLOOMFIELD) - James Matthew “Matt” Hayes is in trouble with the law again and this time, the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office is asking for a sentence enhancement saying Hayes is an habitual substance offender.
48-year-old Hayes of Bloomfield has served time in the Department of Corrections and he's spent time in the Greene County Jail, on several occasions in the past.
The Greene County Daily World reports that his latest stint at the Greene County Jail came when he was arrested on April 16 on charges of manufacturing meth and a probation violation.
Less than a year ago, Hayes was arrested on charges of theft and two counts of possession of marijuana.
Hayes pled guilty to both counts of possession. The theft count was dismissed. He was sentenced to 3 years, given credit for 157 days served, and one year and 180 days were suspended - to be served on probation.
Hayes was still on probation when he was arrested on April 9, a petition to revoke his suspended sentence was filed and a warrant was issued for his re-arrest.
Then on Tuesday, a new criminal case was filed against Hayes charging him with possession of meth.
A warrant was issued after the Greene County Sheriff's Department received an anonymous tip about an active meth lab on East Furnace Road in Bloomfield. When they arrived, they found Hayes and he was arrested.
During his arrest, police found a cellophane wrapper containing a paper towel in his pocket with a substance that tested positive for meth.
A woman at the home admitted to buying precursors for Hayes to use to make meth.
Officers obtained a search warrant and found several items used to make meth, including equipment, chemicals and an active one-pot meth lab.
The Indiana State Police Clandestine Unit was called to dispose of the lab and chemicals.
On Tuesday, the Greene County Prosecutor filed a request for an habitual substance offender sentence enhancement. In support of that request prosecutors presented information that Hayes has two or more prior unrelated substance offense convictions, the court documents list the following convictions:
Hayes has been convicted and sentenced in other cases not involving controlled substances. His offender record with the Indiana Department of Correction lists the following convictions and sentences:
In the newest case, Hayes is being held without bond pending his appearance in court for the initial hearing.
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