By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

Crystal D. Butler

WARSAW — A woman currently serving prison time for a drug dealing case in Elkhart County has been sentenced after dealing drugs in Kosciusko County.

Crystal D. Butler, 45, South Bend, was charged with dealing methamphetamine, a level 4 felony. Eleven additional charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

She was sentenced in Kosciusko Circuit Court on Tuesday, Jan. 10.

For dealing meth, Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Michael Reed sentenced Butler to six years in the Indiana Department of Correction, with four years executed and two years suspended on probation. The case will be served consecutively to an Elkhart County meth dealing sentence she is currently serving at the Rockville Correctional Facility. Her projected release date in the Elkhart case is Feb. 24, 2025.

Butler must also pay $120 in restitution to the NET43 Drug Task Force. Reed also recommended Butler for participation in IDOC’s Recovery While Incarcerated program.

In court, Butler said she has a long history of drug abuse and recently had her two adult sons contact her about building a relationship with them and her grandchildren.

During June and July 2021, NET43 purchased 7.4 grams of meth from Butler during controlled purchases. Butler has prior convictions for dealing cocaine and meth.