PORTLAND, IN — The former director of the Jay County Emergency Medical Service has been placed on probation after pleading guilty to a pair of drug-related crimes.
John Robert McFarland, 50, of Portland, in March pleaded guilty in Jay Circuit Court to two counts of possession of a narcotic drug, a Level 6 felony carrying up to 30 months in prison.
A plea agreement called for McFarland to receive a pair of 30-month sentences. On each charge he was sentenced to two days of incarceration, with the remainder of both sentences spent on probation.
The deal also called for dismissal of five other charges pending against the Portland man: two counts of possession of a controlled substance, along with single counts of unlawful possession of a syringe, possession of paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.
McFarland was sentenced by Judge Brian Hutchison on April 30.
Investigators said in March 2025 they found 85 glass vials containing drugs including fentanyl and morphine, along with 12 syringes, 20 needles, smoking devices and a bag that held marijuana, all in McFarland’s Portland home.
McFarland admitted to investigators that he had stolen the morphine, fentanyl, syringes and needles — and rubber torniquets — from Jay County EMS.
“McFarland admitted it was not part of his job to take the morphine and fentanyl home and that was a problem,” an Indiana State Police trooper wrote.
The Portland man was fired from his county job after his arrest.
Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Ex-Jay County EMS director placed on probation for drug convictions
Reporting by Douglas Walker, Muncie Star Press / Muncie Star Press
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