Lawrenceburg Man Guilty Of Dealing Meth Near School

A Dearborn County Jury found Jacob Hart guilty of the crime on November 8.

Jacob Hart. Photo by the Dearborn County Sheriff's Office. 

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) – A Lawrenceburg man has been convicted of dealing methamphetamine within 500 feet of a school.  

Jacob Hart was in Dearborn County Court last week for a week-long jury trial. On November 8, he was found guilty of Dealing in Methamphetamine within 500 Feet of a School (Level 3 Felony) and being a Serious Violent Felon in Possession of a Firearm (Level 4 Felony).

The investigation leading to Hart’s arrest began when a Lawrenceburg Police School Resource Officer detected a very strong odor of marijuana on a student when she reported to school.

Police then conducted a welfare check at a home of the student near Central Elementary School.

Upon arrival, officers noticed an odor of marijuana coming from inside the home. The door was answered by Jacob Hart’s brother, Hunter, who was in the process of cooking marijuana edibles in the kitchen.

After obtaining a search warrant, officers say they found a cigarette pack containing methamphetamine and Hart’s cell phone, which had received a message asking if Hart could see him two grams of meth.

Police also viewed a cell phone video of Hart waving a gun. Hart was previously convicted of Battery Causing Serious Bodily Injury, which makes him a serious violent felon – who is prohibited from having a firearm.

Both Hart brothers and three other individuals in the home were arrested on a variety of charges.

All of the individuals arrested pleaded guilty to criminal charges, with the exception of Jacob Hart.

Hart will be sentenced on November 27. He faces up to 28 years in jail.

“This is yet another reminder to the community to always contact law enforcement when there may be a concern of drug dealing in your neighborhood,” said Prosecutor Lynn Deddens. “We can’t allow these activities to continue in our community, especially in such close proximity to elementary school children.”