A local man described by police as a large-scale heroin dealer has been ordered to serve 12 years in prison.
Matthew “Matty” Zook, 36, of 2622 Pavia Court, was given a 20-year sentence Thursday from Bartholomew Circuit Court Judge Kelly Benjamin.
However, a handwritten addendum added to a plea agreement dated Aug. 8, 2017 stated that prosecutors were willing to limit Zook’s executed prison time to 12 years, in exchange for his guilty plea to dealing in a narcotic drug.
Under Indiana law, Zook could have received up to 30 years for the Level 2 felony. The judge said she considered the defendant’s lack of an extensive criminal history as a mitigating factor.
On Thursday, Benjamin ordered that after the defendant completes his executed prison time, he serve at least four additional years under the supervision of Bartholomew County Community Corrections.
Upon his release, a determination will be made on whether Zook will spend that time on electronic home monitoring, work release or some other program, court officials said. The remainder of the sentence would be served on probation.
Besides dealing in a narcotic drug, Zook was originally charged with possession of a narcotic drug, possession of methamphetamine and carrying a handgun without a permit.
All but the drug-dealing charge were dismissed under the plea agreement, court records state.
Zook was arrested on May 9, 2017, as part of a lengthy investigation conducted by the Bartholomew County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team, police said.
Several witnesses and overdose victims who were interviewed confirmed to police that Zook was a large-scale heroin dealer, police said.
An undercover narcotics officer testified Thursday that most of the more than 29,000 text messages found on Zook’s cell phone were drug-related.
Investigators believe Zook was driving to the Cincinnati area to purchase heroin when he was pulled over on County Road 800N for a traffic violation, police said.
After a police canine alerted officers to the odor of narcotics, more than 34 grams of heroin — as well as two grams of methamphetamine, marijuana, suboxone strips, drug paraphernalia, money and a handgun — were found in his vehicle, Harris said.
Benjamin said other factors prompted her to raise Zook’s sentence above the possible 10-year minimum.
They include the extensive amount of drugs recovered, the extent of damage to others caused by the defendant’s opioids, and that addiction treatment provided to Zook in the past proved to be ineffective, Benjamin said.
The judge said she would not recommend that Zook be provided addiction treatment and therapy in prison.
During Zook’s apprehension, police also took his passenger, Tasha L. Barnes, 35, of 2842 Lamplight Drive, into custody.
Five months later, Barnes accepted a plea agreement that allowed her to plead guilty to possession of a narcotic drug as a Level 6 felony.
Three other charges were dropped last October, and most of Barnes’ 18-month sentence was suspended.
