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Suspect who fled to Puerto Rico agrees to plea for 6-year sentence.A defendant whose circuitous route to justice included stops in Las Vegas, Kansas City and Puerto Rico after being stopped along Interstate 70 in Putnam County with more than 400 pounds of marijuana in tow has agreed to a plea deal.In a change of plea hearing Wednesday afternoon, Nicholas D.Rhodes, 38, of Stockton, Calif., pled guilty to escape, a Level 5 felony, punishable by 1-6 years in prison, in a 2024 case and Count 1, dealing in marijuana, another Level 5 felony, in the case spawned by his Christmas Eve 2020 arrest on I-70.Deputy Prosecutor Eddie Felling, who brought the case before Putnam Superior Court Judge Denny Bridges, explained that the change of plea agreement caps the maximum sentence Rhodes can receive at six years in prison total.In exchange for guilty pleas to the escape and dealing marijuana charges, the Prosecutor’s Office agreed to drop additional felony charges of possession of marijuana, methamphetamine and cocaine.A sentencing hearing before Judge Bridges is set for 1:30 p.m.After being arrested in Puerto Rico and being returned to Putnam County a little more than two months ago, Rhodes and his fiancée, Julia Kasprick, 39, originally appeared in court March 31 with not-guilty pleas entered on their behalf at that time.No further action has been taken in the case against Kasprick.Rhodes and Kasprick skipped out on their combined $150,000 bond ($100,000 for him, $50,000 for her) after their late 2020 arrest on I-70 in Putnam County when their RV was pulled over with 471 pounds of marijuana and more than $108,0000 in cash.While Kasprick was never technically in custody in that case and simply failed to appear in court for her initial hearing, Rhodes fled jurisdiction after posting bond and ended up being arrested in Las Vegas in April 2024 on a warrant issued locally on Sept.27, 2023.The California couple were arrested in March by FBI officials, U.S.marshals and Puerto Rican police after a former associate spotted a Facebook comment indicating they were in Puerto Rico.A restaurant in Luquillo, Puerto Rico, had posted an item online seeking out Kasprick because she had left her wallet behind at the eatery.Their connection with Putnam County unfolded after an Indiana State Police trooper stopped their eastbound motorhome for unsafe lane movement about 2:20 p.m.24, 2020 near the Cloverdale exit at U.S.231 and I-70.Both subjects were originally facing felony charges of possession of marijuana, methamphetamine and cocaine in that case.Rhodes and Kasprick were ostensibly traveling from California to Indianapolis to visit family for Christmas when Rhodes reportedly drove the RV left of center and floated across the fog line, the probable cause affidavit in the case states.An “overwhelming odor of fresh marijuana” was detected from the interior of the vehicle, court documents further noted, while Rhodes admitted to consuming marijuana in the RV.He reportedly retrieved two plastic bags containing loose marijuana and THC-infused edibles from the motorhome and provided police an expired medical cannabis card.A police drug dog performed a free-air sniff around the RV with the K-9 providing a positive alert to the odor of drugs.The dog later also delivered a positive alert to the odor of illegal drugs on the cash.A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed 417 pounds of cannabis products and $108,560 in cash from the suspected sale and distribution of bulk marijuana products along the way from California to Indiana.According to internet websites, the street value of an ounce of high-quality marijuana in the United States averages $320.That means the 417 pounds of marijuana equates to more than $2 million, depending on quality.After bonding out of jail locally and failing to show up in court for a status hearing in 2023, Rhodes went on the lam before being arrested in Las Vegas in April 2024.Subsequently, arrangements were made to bring Rhodes back to Indiana, contracting with the third-party transport company SGI Avalon Transport for the cross-country trek.When the transport crew arrived in Nevada on June 3, 2024 to transport Rhodes, the suspect declined to come out of his cell and refused to be flown back to Indiana.Transport officials decided to reschedule the effort and move Rhodes by car, a reported 20-hour, 1,500-mile trip.SGI finally took Rhodes into custody on June 11, 2024 but not before he had another issue.Rhodes said ankle shackles were hurting him due to a previous injury, so those shackles were not used during transport.That proved to be a mistake about 2:30 the next morning when Rhodes said he needed to use the restroom and the transport stopped at a gas station off I-70 in Independence, Mo.SGI staff reportedly cleared the men’s room, let Rhodes enter and waited outside.About five minutes later, Rhodes reportedly walked out with his hands under his shirt, professing, “These cuffs are embarrassing.” While being led out of the gas station, Rhodes reportedly turned the opposite direction, dropped his belly chain and cuffs and ran from the transport crew.Hopping a large fence, he reportedly looked back at the guards and said, “Sorry, I just can’t do this” before running into an abandoned apartment complex.Rhodes was officially charged in Putnam County on June 24, 2024 with escape – a Level 5 felony.He remains in the Putnam County Jail, awaiting the July 8 sentencing hearing.