A jury trial for a Warsaw man arrested in February on allegations he dealt meth began Tuesday in Kosciusko Circuit Court.
Robert Lee Pickens, 34, of 5505 CR 100S, Warsaw, is facing felony charges of dealing methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine, in connection with an alleged Feb. 13 deal with Kosciusko County Drug Task Force officers in Leesburg.
Kosciusko County prosecutors allege that around 9 p.m. Feb. 13, undercover Drug Task Force officers set up a staged buy with Pickens through a confidential informant, reportedly receiving just over a half-gram of powdered methamphetamine from Pickens for $80 before police moved in to make an arrest.
Pickens and Carrie Sinae Finken, of Columbia City – the driver who allegedly drove Pickens to the deal - were both arrested and charged with dealing methamphetamine. Pickens was also charged with possession of methamphetamine.
According to testimony Tuesday, a drug task force officer received a call from a confidential informant the day of Feb. 13, who said that she had an opportunity to buy meth from Pickens. The officer told the informant to set up the buy for around 9 p.m. that night at the Warsaw Walmart superstore.
The officer told the jury that he met with the informant around 8:45 p.m. at the Lake City Bank in Warsaw, and searched her and the Dodge Caravan she was driving. During that search, the officer said the location of the deal had changed, moved to a gas station in Leesburg instead.
The officer said he then installed a wire in the informant’s purse, placed it between the captains’ chairs in the van, told her to be sure Pickens gets in the van to do the deal, and sent her off to the deal. The officer said he followed the informant to the location and parked, lights off, on Church Street in Leesburg, and listened as the transaction progressed, according to testimony.
After the deal, in which Pickens allegedly handed over meth for $100 in recorded cash, he was arrested. Police also staged the arrest of the informant, according to testimony.
During a cross examination of the officer, Pickens’ defense attorney Jay Rigdon questioned the officer’s search of the informant, alleging – or at least offering the possibility – that she could have had the meth already planted on her person. The officer said he searched the informant’s lower legs and waist and had her shake her shirt, but he did not search her underwear, where Rigdon suggested a small package could be hidden.
Rigdon then offered to the jury that Pickens and the informant previously dated, and questioned why the informant would be chosen to make a buy with him. Rigdon said such a history could make for questionable motive to frame a man.
The jury is expected to hear a recording of the drug buy from the wire, which could play a major role in their decision.
