North Vernon Man Facing Drug Charges in Dearborn Co. After Traffic Stop

Wednesday, March 12, 2025 at 11:38 AM

By Travis Thayer @eagle993

Police allegedly seized 29 grams of fentanyl.

James Watkins. Photo provided.

(Dearborn County, Ind.) - A North Vernon man is facing charges in Dearborn County after Aurora Police allegedly seized 29 grams of fentanyl.

James Watkins has been charged with Dealing in a Narcotic Drug (Fentanyl), a Level 2 Felony in Dearborn Superior Court II.

The charge stems from a traffic stop that took place on March 6. Officers initiated the stop after observing alleged traffic violations. During the stop, K-9 Ozzy conducted a free-air-sniff of the vehicle and indicated the detection of illegal drugs emitting from the vehicle.

At that time, a probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted and officers allegedly located 29 grams of suspected fentanyl.

Watkins is being held in the Dearborn County Law Enforcement Center on $500,000 cash bond, in addition to $750,000 surety. If convicted, he faces 10 to 30 years in prison.

"Mr. Watkins is innocent until proven guilty in court," said Prosecutor Lynn Deddens. "However, a large amount of fentanyl was taken off the streets. My office is committed to aggressive prosecution of these kinds of cases in an effort to get drugs out of our community. I want to thank Aurora Police, K-9 Officer Ozzy and the Indiana State Police for the good police work that went into making this arrest."