James Wood
BROWNSTOWN — A 41-year-old Bartholomew County man received an 18-year prison sentence Tuesday afternoon in Jackson Circuit Court after pleading guilty to a Level 2 felony charge of dealing in methamphetamine in the amount of 10 or more grams.
James Franklin Wood II of Columbus told Jackson Circuit Judge Richard W. Poynter that he was admitting to being guilty of the dealing charge, but had turned his life around since his arrest on four charges on June 7, 2023, by Indiana State Police in Jackson County.
Besides the dealing methamphetamine charge, Wood also was arrested on a Level 2 felony charge of dealing in a narcotic drug and B misdemeanor charges of false informing and possession of marijuana. Those charges were dismissed as part of the plea deal.
A Level 2 felony is punishable by 10 to 30 years in prison upon conviction with an advisory sentence of 17½ years.
Poynter suspended six years of the 18-year term and gave Wood another 249 days of credit time.
Wood also said he dealing days were over as he wanted to be able devote his time to his little girl and his wife and an older son.
Wood’s father testified during the hearing and said he has seen a major change in his son in everything he does.
“He’s in a place he’s never been before … mentally, spiritually and socially,” he said.
The younger Wood also no longer hangs around with the people he used to connect with, Wood’s father said.
He said his son has been spending his time with family.
“We’re glad to have him home,” Wood ‘s father said. “I am hoping this turns out positive for him and his family. We need him to be around. He’s doing the right thing, and I am proud of it.”
Deputy Prosecutor Mark Hollingsworth, who described Wood as being a major supplier of methamphetamine and fentanyl from Indianapolis to Columbus and the surrounding area, said he often hears during sentencing hearings that defendants didn’t have a father figures in their lives.
Hollingsworth said it appears Wood had a father figure in his life who was good, but still went off the rails and wound up with eight felony convictions for drug-related crimes, over the past 25 years or so.
“Your son also is actually very intelligent?” Hollingsworth said. “He had the mental ability to go other directions.”
Wood’s father said that was true.
Hollingsworth asked the younger Wood during his testimony about what happened since him since he seemed to have a lot going for him when he was growing up and appeared to be a pretty smart person.
Wood said he was not only a dealer but used drugs as well, and like most drug dealers, he often only thought about himself and not the people in his life that his actions were hurting.
He said would never go back to that lifestyle now.
Prior to delivering the sentence, Poynter said he hoped and wanted to believe Wood plan to change his life was going to work but that didn’t erase the fact that had been caught dealing.
He also told Wood he sentence could be reduced with good behavior and he also could petition the court for a reduction in sentence.
“I may not be here, and the new judge might not do it but you can ask,” Poynter said.
