Muncie man tried in absentia found guilty of dealing cocaine, possessing meth

MUNCIE, Ind. — A Muncie man has been found guilty of dealing in cocaine and other crimes by a Delaware Circuit Court 1 jury.

However, 58-year-old Reginald D. Akins Jr. wasn't present Wednesday when the guilty verdicts were returned. Akins failed to show up for a trial that began Monday and was tried in absentia.

On May 3, Akins was allowed to post bond, leave the Delaware County Jail and be placed on electronic home detention, in part so he could visit with his father, who was hospitalized.

Deputy prosecutor Steve Sneed objected to releasing Akins, who at that time faced a total of 40 criminal charges in 10 pending cases.

Ten days after his release, however, Akins acknowledged to a Delaware County Community Corrections official that he had removed an electronic monitoring device and "wasn't doing (house arrest) any more."

He reportedly refused to return to the Community Corrections office to have the monitoring device reattached to his leg.

That led to the filing of a 41st criminal charge against the Muncie man: escape, a Level 6 felony carrying up to 30 months in prison. A warrant was also issued for his arrest.

The jury that on Wednesday found Akins guilty of dealing in cocaine, a Level 3 felony carrying up to 16 years in prison, also found him guilty of possession of meth, a Level 4 felony with a maximum 12-year sentence.

He was also convicted of two misdemeanors: driving while suspended and possession of paraphernalia.

According to Delaware County Prosecutor Eric Hoffman, jurors also determined that Akins is a habitual offender, a status that could add up to 20 years to the sentence he receives. Judge Judi Calhoun is not expected to schedule a sentencing hearing until Akins is captured.

The 36 charges still pending against Akins are almost all drug-related, including three counts of dealing in meth and eight counts of possession of meth.

According to state Department of Correction records, Akins has been convicted of crimes including armed robbery and possession of cocaine.

In 2003, he was convicted of intimidation in a case that saw him accused of sending threatening letters to a woman who served on a Delaware Circuit Court jury that found him guilty of armed robbery in 2001.

Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.