A Bartholomew County man could have put behind bars for as long as 60 years if convicted on two counts of dealing in cocaine.

Instead, Tiburcio Cardoso Garcia was sentenced to eight years in prison, as well as ordered to pay $3,000 restitution to police.

Garcia, 42, who was working for a local manufacturer, was the subject of a lengthy drug investigation by the Bartholomew County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team, police said.

The investigation involved an undercover informant who paid $3,000 to obtain more than 50 grams of cocaine from Garcia in two purchases in the fall 2015, according to a probable-cause affidavit.

But his arrest did not take place until six months after the second drug deal, when Garcia was apprehended during a May 11 traffic stop near his Rolling Knoll Lane residence south of the Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds.

Although originally charged in Bartholomew Superior Court 1 with two Level 2 felony offenses, Garcia accepted a plea bargain Oct. 24 when he plead guilty to one count of dealing in cocaine as a Level 3 offense.

When testifying before Judge Jim Worton during his original Nov. 22 sentencing date, Garcia spoke through a Spanish interpreter to describe himself as a casual user who only sold cocaine a few times for the purpose of skimming some off the top for his own use.

In contrast, the next witness to testify — an undercover narcotics officer — described Garcia as a significant drug dealer who has long been selling large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine for profit.

After the officer said his assessment was based on information from an informant, defense attorney Chris Monroe asked Worton to have the informant identified, given a summons and take the stand in open court.

Deputy prosecutor Greg Long objected, saying such a public disclosure has the potential to endanger the lives of informants who are often assured by police they won’t have to testify.

However, Monroe insisted his client has the right to question the informant’s credibility, which prompted the judge to postpone the conclusion of the hearing until this week.

The sentence handed down to Garcia on Tuesday was half of the maximum allowable under Indiana law for a Level 3 felony.

With only one minor traffic citation on his record, the defendant’s lack of a criminal history was cited as a significant factor in determining Garcia’s sentence.

Temperatures dipped into the teens Thursday evening, but that didn’t deter families from coming to downtown Columbus to enjoy the holiday season.

Santa, however, was a different story. For him, the night was too co-co-cold.

Outdoor features planned as part of “A Not So Silent Night” — including Santa Claus, who was to set up outside The Commons, horse-drawn carriage rides and carolers — were cancelled because of the cold, said Erin Hawkins, director of marketing for the Columbus Area Visitors Center.

It may have been “A Not So Warm Night,” but businesses reported brisk sales anyway during the 4 to 8 p.m. event created to help local shoppers find last-minute Christmas gifts close to home, Hawkins said.

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“We’re always happy to bring people downtown,” she said. “Despite the chilly weather, the merchants felt like it was a worthwhile event.”

People of all ages braved the cold for the upside of a night of fun and bargains.

Children traipsed to 14 different locations for an elf scavenger hunt, hoping to win a grand prize or one of four other prize packages, which included items from downtown Columbus businesses.

Allie Gibbins, 11, had already found elves at several downtown businesses before coming to the kidscommons children’s museum with a group of friends as part of their next stop. Gibbins said the weather wasn’t a concern for her.

Lydia Stuart was part of a three-generation party of six, including her mother, her three sons and one of their friends.

“We have been doing window-shopping, but there are shops I want to return to now,” Stuart said. “It’s a family-orientated town and everywhere we go, people receive us very well.”

Lockett’s Ladies Shop was busy in the 400 block of Washington Street helping customers with their needs.

“It’s really important that downtown merchants are working together, and we have such a great variety (of stores) downtown right now,” said owner Lynne Hyatt, who has owned Lockett’s since 1989.

“It’s fantastic that we have everybody down here to see this, because folks are still not used to having a vibrant downtown,” Hyatt said.

Hyatt said she has been having weekly events to boost store traffic, while offering free gift-wrapping for customers.

Columbus resident Karen Molen was among the Lockett’s shoppers, picking up some gifts in preparation for a Christmas visit with her daughter.

“Everything is very festive,” she said. “It’s really just a pleasant place to be.”

Tricia Gilson, who lives downtown, said she came out to the “A Not So Silent Night” event to support local businesses.

“Most of the shops I go into are locally owned,” said Gilson, archivist and curator with the Columbus Indiana Architectural Archives.

“And they have things in their shops that you don’t find anywhere else,” she said.

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Downtown Columbus offers a variety of specialty shops ranging from bookstores to jewelry. For more information, visit columbus.in.us/see-do/specialty-stores/.

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American Legion Post 24 has begun a campaign to raise nearly $64,000 to bring a traveling Vietnam Veterans wall exhibit to Columbus.

The exhibit, a half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Wall Memorial in Washington, D.C., is scheduled to be on display July 27 to 31 at the Bartholomew County Fairgrounds, post commander Al McKown said.

Admission to see the wall, which will be on display 24 hours a day, will be free, with donations accepted.

Post leaders expect at least 100,000 visitors during the five-day exhibit. The wall, which was at Columbus Municipal Airport in 2002, has been touring the country since 1984.

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Since many Vietnam veterans deal with post-traumatic stress disorder, McKown said he hopes the exhibit will be an experience that offers healing for them.

Speakers are planned as part of the five-day event, and displays highlighting major military conflicts — from World War II to present — will also be available.

Susan Thayer Fye, a legion auxiliary member, said the exhibit will serve as an educational opportunity for students.

“This is historic,” Fye said. “And for a 10-year-old kid studying history, this may be the only time they can see it.”

The post has launched an online crowdfunding campaign and plans to distribute letters to area businesses seeking support, McKown said. In-kind donations are also being sought.

Fish fries and other events are also planned to raise money for the exhibit. Besides direct costs associated with the exhibit, organizers need to cover the cost of security, golf carts, signs, benches, food and other items, he said.

Any funds that exceed the targeted amount will be donated to veterans groups, said Dempsey Ferguson, finance officer at the post.

A meeting will be held at the post, 2515 25th St., at 5:45 p.m. Jan. 4 to talk about fundraising and volunteer opportunities tied to the exhibit. The meeting is open to the public.

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The traveling Vietnam Veterans wall, known as the Moving Wall, is a half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. It has been touring the country for more than 30 years and was first displayed in Tyler, Texas, beginning in 1984, according to the Moving Wall’s website.

Two structures of the Moving Wall travel the U.S. from April to November and spend about a week at each site.

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Donations to bring a traveling Vietnam Veterans wall exhibit to Bartholomew County can be made by mailing a check to American Legion Post 24, 2515 25th St., Columbus. Checks being made out to American Legion Moving Wall Fund.

An online crowdfunding website has also been established at youcaring.com, which can be found by searching “Support the 2017 Moving Wall Memorial in Columbus, Indiana.”

Campaign goal is $63,875.

Information: Post commander Al McKown at 812-447-1000 or finance officer Dempsey Ferguson 812-371-5291. The post can also be reached at 812-376-7036.

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