Arielle Johnson Sentenced to 70 Years for Dealing Resulting in Death

November 3, 2023

On March 18, 2023 the Anderson Police Department responded to an address in Anderson where Cody Pidcock was found deceased from an overdose. Several weeks later on April 4, 2023, the Anderson Police Department responded to a different address in Anderson where Jennifer Ost was discovered deceased from an overdose. Autopsy results from Pidcock and Ost revealed a combination of substances including Fentanyl and Norfentanyl which caused their overdose deaths.  


A months-long investigation by the Madison County Drug Task Force revealed Arielle Johnson was the source of the narcotics which caused the deaths of both Pidcock and Ost.  The Madison County Prosecutor's Office charged Arielle Johnson with Count I: Conspiracy to Commit Dealing in a Narcotic Drug, a Level 2 felony; Count II: Dealing in a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death, a Level 1 felony (for the death of Cody Pidcock); Count III Dealing in a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death, a Level 1 felony (for the death of Jennifer Ost); and Count IV: Dealing in a Narcotic Drug, a Level 5 felony. 


On October 6, 2023, Johnson pleaded guilty to Count I, Count II, and Count III pursuant to a plea agreement which dismissed Count IV, Dealing in a Narcotic Drug, a Level 5 felony, and limited Johnson's executed sentence to 40 years.  On November 3, 2023, Judge Mark Dudley sentenced Arielle Johnson to 70 years following her conviction of two counts of Dealing Resulting in Death, as Level 1 felonies, and one count of Conspiracy to Commit Dealing in a Narcotic Drug, a Level 2 felony.  Judge Dudley ordered 40 years to be executed at the Indiana Department of Correction with 30 years suspended.


The State's case was presented Deputy Prosecutor Jesse Miller.  The case was investigated by Officer Lance Blossom of the Madison County Drug Task Force.




Madison County Prosecutor's Office News

December 7, 2025
On December 5, 2025, following a four-day trial, a Madison County Circuit 1 jury found Shelby Langford (24 of Anderson) and Nicolas Arnett (29 of Anderson) both guilty of a Neglect of a Dependent Resulting in Catastrophic Injury and/or Death, as Level 1 felonies. The charges stem from the September 2024 death of their seventeen-month-old child, Kamryn Arnett. Judge Angela Warners Sims set Langford's and Arnett's sentencing for January 12, 2026, where they each face a maximum sentence of 40 years. At trial, the State's case was presented by Deputy Prosecutors Jennifer Haley and Samantha Green. The case was investigated by Detective Matt Kopp of the Anderson Police Department.
December 7, 2025
On December 4, 2025, following a two-day trial, a Madison County Circuit Court 4 jury found James E. Phillips (47, currently housed at Wabash Valley Correctional Facility) guilty of Count 1: Attempted Murder, a Level 1 Felony, Count 2, Prisoner Possessing Deadly Weapon, a Level 4 Felony, and Count 4: the Habitual Offender Enhancement. These charges stemmed from an October 6, 2023 incident at Pendleton Correctional Facility when Phillips, an inmate, attached Corrections Officer Jacobi Jessie with a knife. Judge David Happe set sentencing on January 9, 2026, at 9:00 am where Phillips faces a sentence of 28-60 years. At trial, the State was represented by Deputy Prosecutors Tyler Piraino and Kylie Yapp. The case was investigated by Detective Anthony Klettheimer of the Indiana State Police. 
October 30, 2025
On October 30, 2025, following a three-day trial, a Madison County Circuit Court 1 jury found Scott Eacret, Jr. (34 of Orestes) guilty as charged of seven counts: Count I, Child Solicitation, a Level 5 felony; Count II, Child Molesting, a Level 1 felony; Count III, Intimidation, a Level 6 felony; Count IV, Child Molesting, a Level 4 felony; Count V, Child Molesting, a Level 1 felony; Count VI, Intimidation, a Level 6 felony; and Count VII, Possession of Child Pornography, a Level 5 felony. Judge Angela Warner Sims set sentencing on November 24, 2025, at 8:30am where Eacret faces a sentence of 20-103 years. At trial, the State was represented by Deputy Prosecutors Dan Kopp and Kylie Yapp. The case was investigated by Brian Holtzleiter of the Alexandria Police Department.
October 22, 2025
On October 22, 2025, Judge Mark Dudley sentenced Courtney Radford (25 of Indianapolis) to a total of 77.5 years for the 2023 murder of Jared Wininger. Radford was convicted after a four-day jury trial of Murder, a felony; Felony Murder, a felony; Robbery Resulting in Bodily Injury, a Level 2 felony; Burglary, a Level 1 felony; Resisting Law Enforcement, a Level 6 felony; and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon, a Level 4 felony. Radford was sentenced to the maximum sentence for Murder, 65 years, which merged with the remaining counts for the purposes of sentencing, and 2.5 years for Resisting Law Enforcement, enhanced by an additional 10 years for the Felony Firearm Enhancement for a total, aggregate sentence of 77.5 years to be executed at the Indiana Department of Correction. At trial, the State's case was presented by Deputy Prosecutors Jennifer Haley and Steve Hunt. The case was investigated by Detective Scott Bertram and Officer Jerry Branson of the Pendleton Police Department.
September 26, 2025
On September 25, 2025, following a four-day jury trial, a Madison County Circuit Court 6 jury found Courtney Radford (25 of Indianapolis) guilty of the 2023 murder of Jared Wininger as well as Robbery Resulting in Bodily Injury, a Level 2 felony; Burglary, a Level 1 felony; Resisting Law Enforcement, a Level 6 felony; and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon, a Level 4 felony. Following the jury's verdict, Radford pleaded guilty to the Felony Firearm Enhancement. Judge Mark Dudley set Radford's sentencing for October 17, 2025, where he faces a sentence of 50-115 years. The State's case was presented by Deputy Prosecutors Jennifer Haley and Steve Hunt. The case was investigated by Detective Scott Bertram of the Pendleton Police Department.
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