Proceedings put on hold while defendant appeals verdict

Although the trial of an alleged drug trafficker with a long and violent criminal record was scheduled to take place on Tuesday, all legal proceedings against Antoine D. Ford have been suspended indefinitely.

Ford, 36, is a Miami County resident. He is charged locally with trafficking in narcotics as a Level 4 felony, possession of methamphetamine as a Level 6 felony, possession of marijuana as a Class B misdemeanor and possession of paraphernalia as a Class C misdemeanor. Prosecutors have used Ford's criminal record and requested that he be declared a habitual offender.

On July 6, 2023, the Bartholomew County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team (JNET) requested officers from the Columbus Police Department to stop a blue Chevrolet Suburban. Narcotics agents knew that Ford, who was under local investigation for suspected drug dealing, was a passenger in the SUV.

Before the vehicle was stopped on Sawin Drive, east of Marr Road, witnesses saw the driver commit several traffic violations, according to a probable cause affidavit.

A search of the vehicle was conducted after a Columbus police dog detected the smell of narcotics. A police spokesperson said suspected methamphetamine, fentanyl, marijuana and drug paraphernalia were found in Ford's possession. Of particular concern, a baggie was discovered containing 11 counterfeit oxycodone 30 mg pills packaged for sale. Some of the counterfeit pills tested positive for fentanyl, investigators said.

Ford, acting as his own attorney, twice asked District Judge Kelly Benjamin to dismiss his case because he believed his constitutional rights had been violated.

The defendant claims that the arresting officers had no reason to believe he was the owner or driver of the SUV, they never witnessed a violation or crime, had no reason to take his cell phone, and had no reason to believe he was armed or dangerous.

For these reasons, Ford argues that the evidence collected against him during the search of the vehicle should be suppressed because it was obtained illegally.

Ford also filed a motion for a writ of habeas corpus, which would essentially require the judge to hold a hearing in the defendant's presence to determine whether Ford was wrongfully detained.

After Benjamin denied Ford's separate motions, Ford announced that he would appeal Benjamin's denial on the writ of habeas corpus on December 21, 2023. Public defender R. Patrick Magrath was appointed to represent the defendant during the appeal.

This month, Benjamin decided not to schedule any further hearings regarding Ford while his appeal is pending in the Indiana Court of Appeals.