SUPERIOR COURT
A Milledgeville man arrested in 2021 for bringing drugs into Jones County entered a guilty plea to the charge and received a sentence of 10 years to serve in prison.
John Calhoun Kipple Jr. was in Jones County Superior Court Feb. 27 to enter his plea to the offense of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
He was sentenced to 20 years with the first 10 years served in confinement.
The remainder of the sentence may be served on probation, and the defendant received credit for time served from his Dec.
28, 2021, arrest.
Kipple was indicted on the charge of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute by a Jones County Grand Jury Dec. 6, 2022.
In a report of his arrest by Jones County Investigator Barron Hall, information was received Dec. 28, 2021, pursuant to an ongoing investigation that Kipple would be entering Jones County driving a beige Ford Explorer, and he was a source of methamphetamine in Middle Georgia.
Hall said he and Investigator Robert Reece approached Kipple as he entered Jones County from Shurling Drive and identified themselves.
Hall said Kipple was asked to exit his vehicle.
The investigator said the driver consented to a search of his person that revealed no contraband.
He said they were joined at the scene by JCSO Lt.
Wesley Ransom.
Hall said Reece asked Kipple if there was anything in the vehicle. He stated no and consented to a search of the vehicle.
Hall said he stood by with Kipple while Reece and Ransom conducted the search.
The investigator said the driver acted very relaxed during the search and did not seem concerned.
That changed when Reece searched the front passenger seat. Hall said shortly after Reece confronted Kipple about a potato chip can, Kipple hung his head and said “you got me.”
Reece had found a hidden compartment in the bottom of the can that contained approximately one ounce of methamphetamine.
Hall said the evidence was photographed and collected, and the suspect was transported to the Jones County Law Enforcement Center by Ransom.
The investigator said the Ocmulgee Drug Task Force was contacted and advised of possible methamphetamine at Kipple’s residence. He said a warrant was secured for the suspect’s arrest.
According to the Georgia Department of Corrections website, Kipple was previously incarcerated June 13, 2012, for a Houston County conviction of possession of methamphetamine that resulted in a 30-year sentence. The crime was committed Aug. 8, 2007, and he was released from the DOC April 2, 2018.
