Jason DeWayne Smith Sentenced to 52.5 Years for Dealing Resulting in Death

August 16, 2024

On August 14th, 2024, Judge Mark Dudley sentenced Jason DeWayne Smith to a total of 52.5 years at the Indiana Department of Correction. A month prior, on July 17th, a jury found Smith guilty following a trial where he was convicted of Dealing in a Narcotic Drug Resulting in Death, a Level 1 felony, and of being a Habitual Offender.  Smith received a sentence of 35 years for the dealing conviction enhanced by an additional 17.5 years as a Habitual Offender.


On November 3, 2019, police discovered Melinda Chanley had died from an overdose of heroin and fentanyl in Anderson.  An investigation by the Madison County Drug Task Force revealed a dealer by the name of “Freaky” had supplied her with the narcotics.  “Freaky” was learned to be Jason D. Smith.   Over the next several months, law enforcement discovered two additional victims with ties to Smith which included both an adult and an infant who had survived overdoses from opiates.


Following the jury's verdict, Chief Deputy Andrew Hanna commended the work of Sgt. Keith Gaskill and the entire Madison County Drug Task Force.  "Abusing illegal drugs has never been more dangerous than it is today.  We're in the midst of a plague of fentanyl and drug dealers know full well the risk they're taking but choose to prey on people for profit anyway.  Our office is committed to holding  drug dealers accountable and removing them from our community for as long as possible."

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.
More Posts