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

August 21, 2025
On August 21, 2025, a Madison County Circuit Court 4 jury found Jeremy Hinson (49 of Anderson) guilty of the 2024 murder of his wife, Michela Hinson. The jury also found Hinson guilty of the Felony Firearm Enhancement. Judge David Happe set Hinson's sentencing for September 28, 2025, where he faces a sentence of 50-65 years. The State's case was presented by Deputy Prosecutors Grainne Kao and Tyler Piraino. The case was investigated by Detective Jim Sundheimer of the Madison County Sheriff's Department.
August 18, 2025
On Monday, August 18, 2025, Judge Angela Warners Sims sentenced Wade Turner Jackson, Jr., (36 of Anderson) to thirty (30) years with twenty-five (25) years to be executed at the Indiana Department of Correction and five (5) years suspended to formal probation. Jackson, Jr. was convicted following a three-day jury trial last month of eleven (11) counts: Count I: Battery by Means of a Deadly Weapon, a Level 5 felony; Count II: Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun, a Class A misdemeanor; Count III: Invasion of Privacy, a Class A misdemeanor; Count IV: Criminal Mischief, a Class B misdemeanor; Count V: Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun, a Level 5 felony; Count VI: Criminal Recklessness, a Level 6 felony; Count VII: Intimidation, a Level 5 felony; Count VIII: Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun, a Class A misdemeanor; Count IX: Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun, a Level 5 felony; Count X: Possession of Cocaine, a Level 6 felony; Count XI: Dealing in a Schedule I Controlled Substance, a Level 2 felony. At trial, the State’s case was presented by Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys Jennifer Haley and Grainne Kao. The case was investigated by Det. Brett Webb of the Anderson Police Department.
July 18, 2025
On July 18, 2025, Judge Mark Dudley sentenced Norman Anderson (64 of Anderson) to forty-five (45) years to be executed at the Indiana Department of Correction. Anderson was convicted last month following a jury trial for Dealing in Cocaine, a Level 2 felony, and the Habitual Offender Enhancement. Anderson received a sentence of twenty-seven (27) years for Dealing in Cocaine enhanced by an additional eighteen (18) years due to his habitual criminal history. At trial, the State’s case was presented by Deputy Prosecutors Matt Savage and Tyler Piraino. The case was investigated by Officer Nathan Smith of the Anderson Police Department.
July 18, 2025
On July 17, 2025, a Madison County Circuit Court 1 jury found Wade Turner Jackson, Jr., (36 of Anderson) guilty of eleven (11) counts following a three-day jury trial. Jackson was found guilty of the following offenses: Count I: Battery by Means of a Deadly Weapon, a Level 5 felony; Count II: Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun, a Class A misdemeanor; Count III: Invasion of Privacy, a Class A misdemeanor; Count IV: Criminal Mischief, a Class B misdemeanor; Count V: Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun, a Level 5 felony; Count VI: Criminal Recklessness, a Level 6 felony; Count VII: Intimidation, a Level 5 felony; Count VIII: Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun, a Class A misdemeanor; Count IX: Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun, a Level 5 felony; Count X: Possession of Cocaine, a Level 6 felony; Count XI: Dealing in a Schedule I Controlled Substance, a Level 2 felony. Judge Angela Warner Sims set Jackson’s sentencing for August 18, 2025, at 9:00 am, where he faces a possible sentence of twelve (12) to forty-two (42) years. At trial, the State’s case was presented by Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys Jennifer Haley and Grainne Kao. The case was investigated by Det. Brett Webb of the Anderson Police Department.
July 17, 2025
On July 17, 2025, a Madison County Circuit Court 3 jury found Joseph Martin Jones (59 of Anderson) guilty of Dealing in Methamphetamine, a Level 2 felony, Dealing in a Narcotic Drug, a Level 2 felony, and Dealing in Methamphetamine, a Level 4 felony, following a two-day jury trial. Judge Andrew Hopper set sentencing for Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at 8:30 am, where Jones faces a possible sentence of ten (10) to thirty (30) years. At trial, the State’s case was presented by Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys Gina Koorsen and Jack Slay. The case was investigated by Deputy LeeAnn Dwiggins of the Madison County Sheriff’s Department and other members of the Madison County Drug Task Force. The jury deliberated for 44 minutes.
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