61 year old John Dardeen will learn his fate today as he’s sentenced on a charge of meth delivery of more than 5 grams. A Wabash County jury found Dardeen guilty of the Clas 2 felony charge and he now faces 3 to 7 years in the Department of Corrections during this morning’s sentencing that is set to start at 9am. During that February trial, Dardeen took the stand in his own defense and denied selling meth and instead he sold marijuana out of his Walnut Street residence. That admission then led to a search warrant and police finding several items associated with the manufacture and delivery of methamphetamine, a sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun with ammunition, and many other cannabis related items. State’s Attorney Kelli Storckman then filed two Class X felonies against Dardeen. The first, possession of meth with intent to deliver, carries a possible prison sentence of 10 to 50 years plus a possible $300,000 fine. The second Class X felony was for aggravated participation in methamphetamine manufacturing which carries a possible 12 to 50 years in prison and another potential $300,000 fine. He has pleaded not guilty to those new charges and a hearing on those cases is set after today’s sentencing.
