Justin Gabriel Klinglesmith, 43, Bluffton
HANCOCK COUNTY — A Bluffton man charged with numerous felony drug crimes in McCordsville in October of 2022 had his case settled via a plea agreement late last week in Hancock County Circuit Court. Despite the severity of the case against him and his criminal past, court records show the man will be given a chance to get his life in order via the Hancock County Drug Court Program.
Justin Gabriel Klinglesmith, 43, was arrested just over a year ago and charged with a Level 2 felony count of dealing a narcotic drug (manufacture, deliver, finance), a Level 5 felony count of possession of cocaine, a Level 5 felony count of possession of meth, a Level 6 felony count of unlawful possession of a syringe as well as two different misdemeanors and one infraction.
Police noted at the time that Klinglesmith also had a warrant for his arrest out of Clark County on a theft charge. A look at Klinglesmith’s criminal history shows he’s had 11 different criminal cases opened against him, ranging from theft, auto theft and resisting law enforcement to more serious felony drug crimes, including dealing.
According to local court records, four of the seven crimes Klinglesmith was facing were dismissed as part of the plea agreement. The deal accepted by Judge Scott Sirk included dropping the most serious Level 2 felony charge during a sentencing hearing on Oct. 12. As part of the deal, Klinglesmith admitted guilt on the two Level 5 felony charges as well as the Level 6 felony.
He was given a term of 2,190 days, all of which were suspended to non-reporting probation for each of the Level 5 felony charges with the condition Klinglesmith participates in Hancock County Drug Court Program. He is to remain in the Hancock County Jail pending bed availability at the House of Hope located in Madison County.
He also received a term of 1,095 days for the Level 6 felony, however it will run concurrent to the two other charges. Klinglesmith also received jail credit of 364 days.
According to a probable cause affidavit, an officer from the McCordsville Police Department first noticed a vehicle being driven by Klinglesmith in October of 2022 had a temporary plate. The officer was parked in his marked patrol vehicle at Stanley at 5697 West Broadway observing traffic on West Ind. 67 when he observed the vehicle.
The affidavit states the officer found the owner of the car, Klinglesmith, had a warrant from another county and prior charges for possession of a syringe, resisting law enforcement, auto theft, dealing methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance and possession of cocaine.
Officers conducted a search of the vehicle that Klinglesmith was driving, the report stated. Law enforcement found a black bag on the driver’s floor. The bag held multiple plastic bags containing white and brown substances which later field-tested positive for heroin and cocaine. Officers also found five syringes and a black smoking pipe, a box of baking soda with a razor blade commonly used to “cut” narcotics, and a white rock-like substance on the passenger seat that later field-tested positive for cocaine.
Officers also found six more syringes and a blue cylinder with a rock-like substance that later field-tested positive for methamphetamine as well as 14 more syringes and a digital scale in a backpack sitting in the back passenger seat, the report stated.
