Appeals court overturns drug conviction for speedy trial violation

The Indiana Court of Appeals overturned the 2018 conviction of Kyle Dilley because the trial court violated his rights to a speedy trial, according to court documents.

Dilley was arrested on April 6, 2018 after Michigan City Police found methamphetamine, heroin and marijuana in his vehicle, according to court records.

Dilley was charged with dealing in methamphetamine, dealing in marijuana, two counts of possession of a narcotic drug.

At his initial hearing on April 10, 2018, Dilley requested a speedy trial and a trial date of June 18, 2018 was set.

On June 1, the state filed a motion to continue the trial because the Indiana State Police lab said it would be unable to test the drug evidence before the June 18 trial date.

At a hearing on June 5, Dilley continued to assert his right to a speedy trial, but the court rescheduled his trial for September 24, 2018.

Dilley's trial happened on August 13 and 14 and the ISP lab results were admitted into evidence.

Dilley was found guilty of all charges and the following month was sentenced to 12 years for dealing methamphetamine and three year sentences for his remaining convictions to be served concurrently.

In his appeal, Dilley argued the state was improperly granted a continuance because it had not submitted the evidence to the Indiana State Police lab until two weeks before trial, according to court documents.

The prosecutor did not convey that information to the court during the hearing on the motion for a continuance on June 5, according to court records.

In its opinion published Wednesday, the court reversed Dilley's conviction.

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