A former Republican Crothersville Town Councilman pleaded guilty to multiple drug charges in Clark County and was sentenced to one year probation earlier this month.
Ardell O. Mitchell, 62, of the 11000 block of E 600 S in Crothersville changed his plea to guilty and was sentenced to one year probation by Clark Circuit Court 2 Judge Bradley B. Jacobs on May 14.
Mitchell pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine, possession of narcotic drug, both felonies, and misdemeanor charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
He was ordered to pay court fees, drug abuse fee, probation user fee, and be subject to unscheduled probation department visits over the next 12 months.
If he successfully completes probation the court could modify the felony convictions to misdemeanors, according to the court record.
Mitchell was arrested around 2 p.m. on Friday, May 9, 2025 by Clarksville Police Officer Colton Foreman after Mitchell failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of Little League Blvd and Kopp Lane in Clarksville.
After making the traffic stop, Foreman said while talking to Mitchell he could smell the odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. The officer had Mitchell exit the vehicle so he could conduct a search.
According to the probable cause affidavit the police officer located two small baggies with a powdery substance and a cut straw. Mitchell informed the officer that he believed the powdery substance was heroin, according to the court document. Mitchell also told the officer he had marijuana in his vehicle.
The officer located a black soft fabric case with individual baggies containing a crystal like substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine. The officer also located several rolled marijuana cigarettes and a glass smoking device containing burnt residue.
Mitchell was a member of the Crothersville town council for eight years through the end of 2015, when he did not seek another term. Most recently he was a member of the Crothersville Redevelopment Commission until resigning in May 2025.