A convicted drug dealer from Jennings County is back behind bars for probation violation.
Tony G. Michael, 48, of 2750 W. County Road 675N, North Vernon, was arrested on a warrant Tuesday and booked into the Bartholomew County Jail in lieu of $150,000 surety or $15,000 cash bond.
When he was arrested in September 2005 for dealing in methamphetamine and maintaining an illegal drug lab, Michael already had an extensive criminal record.
It began with a 1986 conviction for battery, followed by convictions for possession of marijuana, leaving the scene of an accident, multiple counts of drunken driving and other traffic violations, court records state.
Michael also was arrested for probation violations in 1995, records show.
After pleading guilty to manufacturing methamphetamine as part of a November 2006 plea bargain, Michael was given a 20-year prison term by Bartholomew Circuit Judge Stephen Heimann.
However, half of the sentence was suspended, and Michael was released on probation on Feb. 9, 2012.
On May 29, a petition to revoke Michael’s probation was filed accusing Michael of violating several conditions of his probation, including methamphetamine use, according to court records.
Probation officer G. Chip James also said that Michael continued to associate with individuals either on parole or involved in illegal activities, did not report his change in address and failed to maintain required contacts with police.
He also was delinquent in paying $1,809 in restitution and other court costs.
