MARION, IN – Grant County Prosecutor Scott J. Hunt announced that Joscelyn Elizabeth Bounds, 35, of Marion, was sentenced today in Grant Circuit Court after pleading guilty to Dealing in a Narcotic Drug, a Level 2 Felony, and Possession of Paraphernalia, a Class C Misdemeanor.
Under the terms of the plea agreement accepted by the Court, Bounds received a 25-year sentence, with 20 years to be served in the Indiana Department of Correction.
The investigation began on January 4, 2025, when members of the JEAN Team Drug Task Force received information that Bounds and a co-defendant were traveling to Dayton, Ohio, to obtain a large quantity of narcotics for distribution in Grant County. Investigators coordinated surveillance as the suspects returned to Grant County, where a traffic stop was initiated after officers observed a traffic violation.
A K-9 alerted to the odor of narcotics inside the vehicle. During the investigation, officers recovered drug paraphernalia from the vehicle. After Bounds was transported to the Grant County Jail, she produced a concealed bag containing approximately 49 grams of suspected heroin from her person. Subsequent laboratory analysis by the Indiana State Police confirmed the substance contained 47.27 grams of heroin, along with fentanyl and other dangerous substances.
Prosecutor Scott J. Hunt said, “Nearly fifty grams of heroin mixed with fentanyl has the potential to destroy countless lives in our community. I commend the outstanding work of the JEAN Team Drug Task Force, the Marion Police Department, and the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, and all the officers involved in this investigation. Their diligence and cooperation prevented these dangerous narcotics from reaching the streets of Grant County.”
The Grant County Prosecutor’s Office also recognizes Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Hannah Kochanek for her work in prosecuting this case.
The Grant County Prosecutor’s Office remains committed to aggressively prosecuting those who traffic dangerous narcotics into our community and holding offenders accountable for crimes that threaten the safety and well-being of Grant County residents.
The co-defendant is scheduled for trial on July 27, 2026 and is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
