Oliger
BROWNSTOWN — A 34-year-old Seymour man was sentenced to 10 years in prison Thursday afternoon after pleading guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, a Level 4 felony, and reckless homicide, a Level 5 felony, in Jackson Circuit Court.
Jeremiah Christopher Oliger received that term from Jackson Circuit Court Judge Richard W. Poynter. He also received 642 days of actual credit through a combination of time already served, probation already served and good time credit.
Poynter also ordered Oliger to enter a drug and alcohol treatment program during his incarceration.
The family of Lelan-Eric W. Sharp, 22, of North Vernon gave an emotional impact statement, saying their lives were forever changed due to the careless act that led to his death from a gunshot wound to the stomach on July 29, 2021.
Deputy Prosecutor Mark Hollingsworth asked Poynter to give Oliger, who had originally been charged with murder, reckless homicide, obstruction of justice and unlawful possession of a handgun by a violent felon, the maximum sentence because the defendant had earned it.
A Level 4 felony is punishable by two to 12 years in prison with an advisory sentence of six years, while a Level 5 felony is punishable by one to six years in prison with an advisory sentence of three years.
Oliger received 10 years on the possession of a handgun by a serious violent felon charge and six years on the reckless homicide charge with the sentences to be served at the same time. The other charges were dismissed.
Oliger’s charges stem from an investigation into Sharp’s death, according to a news release from Jackson County Sheriff Rick Meyer on Aug. 3, 2021.
Police learned Sharp had been shot when dispatchers received a call at 4:51 a.m. from a female who said a motorist had stopped her vehicle and asked to her call 911 because there was a male in the vehicle who had been shot, Meyer said.
The caller told police she had been stopped by the motorist carrying Sharp while driving in the 7700 block of County Road 875E on Seymour’s far north side.
Officers and personnel with Jackson County Emergency Medical Services responded and found a man, later identified as Sharp, with a gunshot wound to the abdomen, Meyer said.
Sharp was treated at the scene by medical personnel and taken to Schneck Medical Center in Seymour before being transported by Jackson County EMS to IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. The hospital later notified the sheriff’s department Sharp had died from his injuries.
After talking with witnesses, detectives conducting the investigation were able to determine the shooting had taken place during a domestic dispute at a residence in the 8000 block of North County Road 925E in Seymour, Meyer said.
A search warrant was obtained for that address, and police later were able to develop probable cause, leading to Oliger’s arrest, Meyer said.
County Detective Sgt. Stan Darlage was assisted by officers with the Seymour Police Department and Indiana Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division and officials with the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office.
Oliger will be sent to the Reception Diagnostic Center in Plainfield to determine the right facility for him to serve his time.