BEDFORD – Lawrence Superior Court II Judge Bob Cline sentenced a Bedford man to eight years in the Indiana Department of Correction on Thursday.
Ransom Lee, 27, pleaded guilty to a negotiated plea deal of dealing methamphetamine, a Level 5 felony as a lessor included, with a habitual offender enhancement with the State of Indiana.
Judge Cline sentenced Lee to a total of eight years in prison. Five years on the dealing meth charge and three years for being a habitual offender. Lee was given credit for 427 days served. While at the Department of Corrections Lee must also attend a clinically appropriate substance abuse treatment program. Once successfully completed, Judge Cline will consider a modification to Lee’s sentence.
“Individuals who come to Lawrence County to deal drugs will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office would like to thank law enforcement for all of their hard work in keeping drugs off our streets and, in addition, thank the community for remaining vigilant and reporting what they see,” said Lawrence County Deputy Prosecutor Robert Garrett, who prosecuted the case on behalf of the State of Indiana.
Lee was arrested in October 2021 after a Bedford Police officer noticed Lee in the CVS parking lot who was wanted on multiple warrants.
Police say Lee saw the officer and ran through the parking lot and crossed 16th Street to Walgreens. He then jumped into the back passenger seat of an orange Hyundai in the Walgreens parking lot. The officer was able to block the vehicle in the parking lot.
Lee was arrested on outstanding warrants.
While searching Ransom, officers found several baggies that contained crystal meth, marijuana, heroin, a syringe, and other drug paraphernalia.
The driver of the Hyundai told police he was there to meet Lee to purchase meth from him.
Ransom was transported to IU Health Hospital after police suspected Lee had possibly ingested drugs. Once medically cleared he was transported to jail on charges of dealing meth, possession of meth, possession of a narcotic drug, unlawful possession of a syringe, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
