The Monroe County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help locating 45-year-old Alissa Kay Winkles, who is wanted on two Level 3 felony drug dealing charges and a Level 5 felony possession charge. Winkles is described as 5 feet 6 inches tall and 140 pounds, with blond hair and blue eyes. She also has one additional active case pending in the court system.
Winkles was named in this week's “Wanted Wednesday” bulletin from the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, which lists her charges as dealing in a narcotic drug and dealing in a Schedule I controlled substance, both Level 3 felonies, along with possession of a narcotic drug, a Level 5 felony. The sheriff's office did not disclose in the post what specific substance or quantity is tied to the charges, nor details about the separate active case referenced in the bulletin. The agency is led by Sheriff Ruben Marté, who has headed the Bloomington-based department since January 2023, according to The Indiana Lawyer.
What the Charges Could Mean in Court
Under Indiana law, dealing in a narcotic drug becomes a Level 3 felony when the amount involved falls between 1 and 5 grams or when an enhancing circumstance applies, according to Keffer Hirschauer LLP. A Level 3 felony conviction in Indiana carries a prison sentence of 3 to 16 years, with an advisory term of 9 years and fines up to $10,000, per Indiana Code § 35-50-2-5 as detailed by Justia Law. The possession charge Winkles faces, meanwhile, is a Level 5 felony under Indiana Code § 35-48-4-6 when the quantity involved is between 5 and 10 grams, or smaller amounts paired with an enhancing factor, according to Chambers Law Office. Level 5 felonies carry a sentencing range of 1 to 6 years with a 3-year advisory term.
Combined, the three pending charges carry an advisory sentence total of 21 years, and if a court were to order the terms served consecutively, Winkles could face a maximum cumulative sentence of up to 38 years in state prison, per Justia Law's breakdown of Indiana sentencing guidelines. Indiana trial judges retain discretion to weigh aggravating and mitigating factors — including prior criminal history and substance abuse history — that can push a sentence above or below the advisory benchmark, or allow for alternative placements like home detention or probation, according to the Law Office of Joseph M. Roberts. Whether prosecutors will pursue consecutive terms if Winkles is convicted remains unknown.
Drug Enforcement Amid a Falling Overdose Count
The search for Winkles comes as Monroe County continues to grapple with the fallout of narcotics in the community, even as fatal overdoses have trended downward. The county recorded 41 drug-related overdose deaths in 2025, down from 56 in 2024, continuing a decline from the post-pandemic surge, according to Indiana Public Media. Statewide, the picture remains grim: 787 people died from opioid-related overdoses across Indiana between January and September 2025, according to Indiana Department of Health tracking data cited by the Indiana Daily Student.
Local health officials have leaned into harm-reduction efforts alongside law enforcement's interdiction work. The Monroe County Health Department offers free naloxone distribution and runs the Monroe County Pathways treatment navigation program, part of a coordinated Overdose Outbreak Response Plan meant to connect residents with treatment, according to state health department resources.
How to Submit a Tip
Anyone with information on Winkles' whereabouts is asked to call the Monroe County Sheriff's Office tip line at (812) 349-2815. Tips can also be submitted through the MCSO App or the sheriff's office website, and information can be left anonymously. Winkles is the latest name to surface in the department's recurring Wanted Wednesday series, following a felony drug and theft manhunt for 32-year-old Austin Dennison earlier this month.
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