Another sentence handed down in Operation Big Brother case

Another sentencing relating to an Operation Big Brother arrest took place today in the Dubois County Superior Court.

On June 1, 2015, Margaret “Faith” MacDonald, 42, Huntingburg, pleaded guilty to dealing in methamphetamine, a Class B felony.

Under the plea agreement entered into by Ms. MacDonald, sentencing was left to the discretion of Judge Mark R. McConnell, but with the condition that the sentence would not exceed 16 years. The range of possible penalties for a Class B felony is six to 20 years, with an advisory sentence of 10 years.

The plea agreement also required Ms. MacDonald to pay $300.00 in restitution to the Dubois County Sheriff’s Community Strike Fund.

At today’s sentencing hearing, the Dubois County Prosecutor’s Office requested that the court sentence MacDonald to 16 years executed at the Indiana Department of Correction, with four years suspended to four years of supervised probation. The Dubois County Probation Department recommended a total sentence of 12 years, with two years suspended to two years of supervised probation.

Judge McConnell chose to sentence Ms. MacDonald to 10 years, with the first four years served at the Indiana Department of Correction, followed by two years on work release through Dubois County Community Corrections, followed by four years on supervised probation.

Four Operation Big Brother cases remain outstanding at this time.

One of those cases is set for sentencing on July 29, 2015.

In total, 12 Operation Big Brother cases have been resolved. Thus far, the sentences imposed in these cases total 113 years, with 89 years of jail time.