Jayden Campbell
A local man originally charged in two separate cases with six felonies and three misdemeanors could have faced over 36 years in prison, if convicted on all counts. However, a Bartholomew Superior Court 1 spokeswoman said Jayden Michael Campbell, 33, was allowed to plead guilty to only one felony in one case, lowering the potential sentence for the Beatty Lane resident to between two and 12 years.
A plea agreement was announced during a Monday hearing where Judge James Worton scheduled sentencing for March 15 at 2:30 p.m. Worton has not yet formally accepted the agreement between the defendant and prosecutors.
On July 15, 2019, Campbell was arrested after fleeing on a motorcycle after a Columbus Police Department officer tried to stop him near State and Brooks streets, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman.
Campbell increased his speed and disregarded a nearby stop sign when the officer activated his police car’s emergency lights, Harris said. A short time later, the officer located Campbell’s wrecked motorcycle near Fodrea Elementary School in an alley near Brooks Street and Kentucky Avenue.
During a search of the wreckage left by Campbell, the officers discovered a loaded handgun with the serial number removed as well as methamphetamine, Harris said. Campbell was located a short time later outside of a residence on South Hinman Street.
He was originally charged with a Level 3 felony of possession of methamphetamine, but Monday’s plea agreement lowered the county to a Level 4 felony. There were also two felonies – being a felon carrying a handgun, and possession of an altered gun – that were both dismissed by prosecutors on 2019.
As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors are also dropping one Level 6 felony count of resisting law enforcement, as well as two misdemeanors: driving without ever receiving a license and leaving the scene of an accident.
All charges were also dropped in a separate case where Campbell allegedly broke a stearing column that allowed him to steal a vehicle from an acquaintance, as well as a second count of driving without a license, according to a probable cause affadavit.
