By HOLLY GASKILL
A man from Muncie has been convicted of two counts of drug dealing that resulted in the death of a 17-year-old from Bluffton.
Delaware County Circuit Court found Teagon Eugene Thatcher, 23, guilty of dealing in a controlled substance resulting in death, a Level 1 felony, and dealing in a narcotic drug, a Level 5 felony.
The Bluffton juvenile died of a suspected overdose at home on Feb. 27. According to an affidavit, the Bluffton Police Department located text messages between the juvenile and Thatcher, where the two agreed to meet in Muncie and Thatcher would supply 1.5 grams of “slo,” a term for an opiate. Toxicology results returned positive for methamphetamine and fentanyl.
The state issued a warrant for Thatcher’s electronic devices in March, and he was then arrested on April 16.
Thatcher requested a bench trial, which was conducted last week by Delaware Circuit Court 4 Judge John Feick. On Monday, Feick found Thatcher guilty on both counts and ordered the charges be merged into the Level 1 felony. Sentencing will take place on Sept. 11, where Thatcher faces up to 40 years in prison.
Thatcher has another pending case, also in Delaware County, where he has been charged with the neglect of a dependent in a situation that endangered the dependent’s life or health, a Level 6 felony, in 2023.
holly@news-banner.com
