A Bartholomew County man that investigators believe has some responsibility for bringing tainted opioids into south central Indiana will be sentenced next month.
Ryan S. Redmon, 25, of 731 E. County Road 550N, could face up to six years in prison when he is sentenced at 10:30 a.m. July 6 by Bartholomew Circuit Court Judge Kelly Benjamin.
Originally, Redmon was charged with selling narcotics twice. The first sale took place on April 19, 2016, in a house along Cottage Avenue where the defendant was living at the time, according to a probable-cause affidavit.
He was under police surveillance when he provided heroin in exchange for $340, the affidavit stated.
The second offense, which took place July 19, 2016, outside a fast-food restaurant in the Taylorsville area, involved an exchange of narcotics for $100, the affidavit stated.
After a warrant was issued, Redmon was taken into custody Oct. 26 during a high-risk arrest, which involves officers having their guns drawn.
During his apprehension, police discovered more illegal drugs.
New charges were immediately filed for possession of methamphetamine as a Level 6 felony, as well as unlawful possession of a syringe.
In announcing the arrest, Columbus Police spokesman Lt. Matt Harris said Redmon was suspected of bringing in heroin from Cincinnati and Indianapolis, including a tainted batch that played a role in seven local overdoses the weekend of Sept. 17 and 18, 2016.
Just hours after posting bond and being placed on home detention on Nov. 9, Redmon nearly died of a heroin overdose himself, police said.
He was found unresponsive and not breathing when Hope police officers discovered him in the bathroom of an elderly relative’s residence on Main Street, about a block north of the Hope Town Square, Town Marshal Matt Tallent said.
After Redmon was revived, he was first taken to Columbus Regional Hospital for evaluation before being booked into the Bartholomew County Jail for probation violations.
He has been held at the jail since then in lieu of $1.51 million bond, jail officials said.
In a plea agreement issued Feb. 1 and accepted by the defendant earlier this month, Redmon agreed to plead guilty to one count of dealing in a narcotic drug as a Level 5 felony.
Under Indiana law, a Level 5 conviction could result in one to six years of incarceration, as well as a fine of up to $10,000.
In exchange, all other counts and cases will be dismissed, according to the agreement signed by Bartholomew County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Kathleen Burns.
However, Burns is requiring that Redmon make $615 restitution for money used in the investigation.
