Versailles, In. — Ripley County prosecutor Ric Hertel says New Marion resident, Kenneth Cardinal, 58, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for dealing in methamphetamine.
At the time of his arrest in December of 2017, Cardinal had three loaded handguns, $2,000 worth of methamphetamine, digital scales and paraphernalia.
Evidence presented in court showed Cardinal sold methamphetamine on a daily basis, and he told a visitor to the Ripley County Jail that if he had it all to do over again there would have been some “gun play” on the day of his arrest. The State told the judge those comments demonstrated his obvious danger to police and the community as a whole.
Cardinal argued that he did not sell the drugs, he used them to entice women to sex with him. A forensic analysis of Cardinal’s phone revealed 20 other names and conversations about amounts and prices.
Prosecutor Hertel said, “Southeastern Indiana now finds itself in the grip of a serious epidemic: crystal methamphetamine. In this case, Troopers were able to subdue one of the most dangerous and prolific poisoners of our community. We owe them our thanks.”
