BEDFORD— Lawrence County Superior Court I Judge John M. Plummer III sentenced Mark Barnett to eight years in the Indiana Department of Corrections after he committed multiple violations while on probation.
Mark Barnett, 44, was initially sentenced in 2012 for the crime of dealing methamphetamine. His sentence was 20 years in prison, and eight of those years were suspended to probation. Additionally, Barnett was sentenced to participate in the Purposeful Incarceration Program as part of his sentence.
Barnett completed the Purposeful Incarceration Program in 2013. He requested a sentence modification, which resulted in Barnett’s entry into the Lawrence Community Transitions Program, which included placement in the Pathways to Recovery Program. About five months after this modification had occurred, the Lawrence County Probation Department filed a petition to revoke, resulting in Barnett’s return to the Indiana Department of Corrections for the remainder of his executed sentence.
After being released from the Indiana Department of Corrections, Barnett began serving the probation term of his sentence. During the probation term, another petition to revoke Barnett’s probation was filed in 2021 because Barnett was arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated in Monroe County.
Barnett admitted to the violations but then failed to appear for a hearing on August 31, 2022, to learn the sanction for that violation.
A failure to appear warrant was issued and finally served on July 2, 2024. After a hearing on July 10, 2024, Judge Plummer ordered the remaining eight years of Barnett’s sentence executed in prison.
Chief Deputy Prosecutor Joshua K. Scherschel said, “Barnett was given numerous opportunities to help himself but time and time again always made decisions that were contrary to the law. Barnett made these decisions knowing the risk that his actions could land him back into the prison system. Barnett’s behavior has demonstrated that he doesn’t respect our community or its laws, and the Department of Corrections is an appropriate place for him.”
