Muncie habitual offender's latest convictions lead to 27-year prison term

MUNCIE, Ind. — A Muncie man who didn't show up for a recent trial that saw him convicted of dealing in cocaine and other crimes has been sentenced to 27 years in prison.

Reginald D. Akins Jr., 58, was tried in absentia in early June. A month earlier, the Muncie man 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.

However, Delaware County Community Corrections officials said Akins then removed an electronic monitoring device, telling one officer he "wasn't doing (house arrest) anymore."

A Circuit Court 1 jury on June 5 found the non-present Akins guilty of dealing in cocaine, possession of meth, driving while suspended and possession of paraphernalia. He was also determined to be a habitual offender.

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

Akins, who was recaptured on June 11, was sentenced last week by Judge Judi Calhoun.

He still faces 36 other charges in pending Delaware County cases. Nearly all of those charges are drug-related, including three counts of dealing in meth and eight counts of possession of meth.

In other court news:

Neglect charges: A Muncie mother faces a pair of felony neglect charges over her children's repeated absences from school.

Stephany L. Edgeman, 35, is charged with two counts of neglect of a dependent, a Level 6 felony carrying up to 30 months in prison.

According to an affidavit, one of Edgeman's children missed at least 50 days of school during the 2023-2024 school year. The document did not specify the number of absences for the other child.

School officials told Muncie police they had "contacted (Edgeman) numerous times regarding her children not coming to school."

A trial date has not yet been set in the Delaware Circuit Court 3 case.

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