Decatur County, IN — An Indianapolis man was handed a 16-year sentence in Decatur Circuit Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to being a Serious Violent Felon in Possession of a Firearm (Level 4 Felony) as well being a Habitual Offender.
Michael Ryan Jorgensen was sentenced by Judge Tim Day to six years in prison, with the remaining 10 years on supervised probation.
Decatur County Prosecutor Nate Harter noted Jorgensen’s lengthy criminal history, which began in 1999.
“This defendant has been convicted of crimes in six counties with one more pending in a seventh county. From false informing through stolen property, up to dealing methamphetamine, Mr.
Jorgensen has done it all,” Harter said. “That history matters when we fashion a just sentence that will keep the public safe.”
Harter recognized Greensburg Police Officer Matt Terkhorn for his work in this case.
“Terkhorn spotted Jorgensen driving the wrong way on a one-way street, and then through diligent follow-up enforcement was able to build the case we ultimately prosecuted,” Harter said.
According to court documents, Jorgensen cooperated by admitting to both the firearm and controlled substances.
Harter expressed satisfaction with the outcome.
“The plea I offered considered that Jorgensen took responsibility for his actions. His cooperation and his acknowledgment that he needs professional help to fix the underlying issues in his life further pushed me toward a sentence that requires prison time, but also gives him an extended period of time to prove he can implement the lessons he learns. It also made a difference to me that the firearm had not been used to commit a crime like threatening or harming another person,” Harter said.
