Sanders Markl Emerson, 23, Indianapolis
HANCOCK COUNTY — An Indianapolis man facing felony drug charges for dealing a controlled substance in June 2022 had his case settled via a plea agreement in Hancock County Circuit Court late last week.
Sanders Markl Emerson, 23, was facing a Level 2 felony drug dealing charge and two Level 6 felony drug charges, with the most serious crime carrying between 10 and 30 years. The advisory term is 17 1/2 years in prison, but Emerson will serve less.
According to a plea agreement, Emerson entered a guilty plea to a lesser Level 3 felony drug charge and was given a 10-year total term for that crime and one of the Level 6 felony charges with the other charge dismissed.
Judge Scott Sirk handed down the sentencing Thursday after accepting the plea agreement, which called for the 10-year total to have three years served at the Indiana Department of Corrections, two years served on home detention and five years suspended to formal probation.
According to a probable cause affidavit, officers from the McCordsville Police Department were dispatched to the 6600 block of West Dickens Crossing June 9, 2022 for a welfare check on two dogs barking incessantly. It had been reported the dogs were in one crate with no food or water.
When officers arrived, Emerson opened the door and police noted they smelled raw marijuana emitting from the residence, the affidavit said. The home owner, Daryl Whitfield, 43, McCordsville, came the door and officials told him they wanted to search the property and, if he declined, they’d get a warrant. Whitfield declined, so police asked him to exit the residence, which he initially refused to do before finally exiting the house.
Officials also found two adult women and three children inside the residence, who they asked to leave as officers filled out paperwork for the search warrant. All officers and residents remained outside until the warrant was approved, the affidavit said.
Once the warrant was approved, more officers, including K-9 officers, arrived and began to search the home. Officials reported they found 69.1 grams of blue pills with “M” on the side thought to be Oxycodone, the affidavit said. There was also a shoe box which contained marijuana stems and leaves, the report noted.
Officials also found 8.1 grams of peach-colored capsules in a bedroom where Emerson was staying, the affidavit said. Officers also found scales with a marijuana shake on it, a Glock 20 handgun, a Draco rifle and two iPhones.
Officials arrested Whitfield and Emerson at the time. Prior to the arrests, officials noted they had numerous complaints about possible narcotics activity at the residence and that they began conducting surveillance there, the affidavit said.
While Emerson’s case has wrapped, court records show Whitfield’s case is still open. He’s facing a Level 2 drug dealing felony charge and three Level 6 felonies. Whitfield is slated for a pretrial hearing in Circuit Court this week, Thursday, May 18 court records show.
