VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Two years after Xanax-laced gummies sent a local middle-schooler to the hospital, one of those charged in an investigation stemming from the incident has been sentenced to prison.
After reaching an agreed resolution with the prosecution, Levi Dowden was sentenced Monday in Vigo County Court to a total of 16 years–including 10 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections–stemming from the 2019 investigation.
Dowden was one of four people arrested in March 2019 on multiple drug and gun-related felony charges after authorities launched an investigation to find the source of the drug-laced candies found at a Vigo County School.
After executing a search warrant, investigators found 69.4 grams of ecstasy (MDMA); 6.1 grams of cocaine (powder); 74 Clonazepan pills; 94.6 grams marijuana; 28.4 grams THC wax; 690.9 grams of suspected Xannax laced gummies; Approximately 15 pounds of suspected K-2; 23.6 pounds of Mimosa Root Bark; thousands of empty capsules; five long guns; and 13 handguns, two of which were stolen.
Under Dowden’s court resolution, he was sentenced on only four of the initial 18 charges: Aiding in Dealing in Methamphetamine, Aiding in Dealing Cocaine, Aiding in Dealing in a Look-a-like Substance and Dealing in Marijuana.
Following his prison sentence, Dowden will be required to serve one year of work release and five years on formal probation.
Orville Anderson, Jr. pleaded guilty last year to assisting a criminal, and was sentenced to 500 days in prison for his involvement in the case. Dyllon Ware and Maizie Rogers are still awaiting trial.
