A man described by police as a large-scale heroin dealer has been sentenced to serve 12 years in prison.
Matthew “Matty” Zook, 36, of 2622 Pavia Court actually received a 20-year sentence Thursday from Bartholomew Circuit Court Judge Kelly Benjamin.
However, a hand-written addendum added to a plea agreement dated Aug. 8, 2017 states that prosecutors were willing to limit Zook’s executed prison time to 12 years, in exchange for pleading guilty to dealing in a narcotic drug.
Under Indiana law, Zook could have received up to 30 years after pleading guilty to the Level 2 felony. But 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 addition years under the supervision of community services. The remainder of the sentence would be served on probation, court officials said.
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.
For more on this story, see Saturday’s Republic.
