WARSAW — Nineteen-year-old Madison May, Warsaw, was sentenced today, Dec. 4, for dealing in methamphetamine, a level 4 felony as a lesser included level 2 felony, dealing in narcotics, a level 4 felony, and failure to appear, a level 6 felony.

The charges are a result of a Nov. 28, 2016, traffic stop where officers discovered brass knuckles and a syringe in May’s pocket, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed. In her purse officers discovered a digital scale with residue and a plastic bag containing residue.

The affidavit states that May admitted to having drugs on her person and officers removed three bags of a white substance that field tested positive for meth and several empty bags that had been dumped out, some into a water bottle. May advised she had started the night with 11 grams of meth, stating she had previously sold several pounds of meth and 30 pounds of marijuana and is a “large-scale dealer in the area.”

May’s body was searched after being transported to Kosciusko County Jail and officers discovered an additional four plastic bags containing meth, weighing 12.4 grams, and nine hydromorphone pills.

The total amount of meth found on May’s person was roughly 19 grams.

May’s attorney John Barrett made comment of May’s young age, suggesting to the court that May needs to be given a chance to prove her intentions to become a law-abiding citizen, adding that she has used illegal substances since she was 11 years old. Judge Michael Reed interjected to point out alleged accusations that May has been caught drinking while incarcerated.

When May told the court it took hitting rock bottom and missing family events to want to make a change, Reed pointed out that while incarcerated May has accrued nine conduct violations for drinking, smoking and fighting.

For each count of dealing May was sentenced to five years at the Indiana Department of Corrections, to be served concurrently. For failure to appear she was sentenced to one year at the IDOC, served consecutively to the dealing sentencing.

In regard to giving May a break because of her young age, Judge Reed felt her lesser included charge was enough. If May had been sentenced with a level 2 felony she would have faced 10-30 years.