Published: June 24, 2009 01:57 pm      

Man gets 13 years for meth

Two more cases pending in connection with incident at Belle Prairie FS plant

By PAUL LORENZ

paul.lorenz@mcleansborotimesleader.com

McLEANSBORO — One of three Franklin County residents arrested here in March on methamphetamine-related charges was sentenced to prison last week.

Scott W. Wiggins, 27, received a 13-year state prison sentence after pleading guilty June 15 to unlawful possession of meth-manufacturing material, a Class 2 felony, according to Hamilton County Circuit Court records.

Local authorities arrested Wiggins, his wife, Stacy K. Wiggins, and Ronald L. Burgess Jr., all of Benton, early March 26 after setting up an “anhydrous watch” at the Belle Prairie FS Wabash Valley Service Co. plant, Dahlgren, Hamilton County Sheriff Greg Brenner said.

Burgess and Scott Wiggins were arrested at the plant; McLeansboro police arrested Stacy Wiggins after stopping a car which had left the scene, the sheriff said.

Scott Wiggins pleaded guilty to knowingly possessing several items which he intended to use to make meth, including rock salt, coffee filters, a lithium battery, starting fluid, plastic tubing and a fire extinguisher containing anhydrous ammonia.

Police saw Scott Wiggins filling a fire extinguisher with anhydrous ammonia at the Belle Prairie FS plant, according to the state’s attorney’s statement. All of the meth-manufacturing materials except the fire extinguisher were found in the car which Stacy Wiggins is accused of using to drop her husband off at the FS plant, the statement said.

Charges of participation in meth manufacturing and unlawful possession of a meth precursor in a form other than standard dosage form, both Class X felonies, unlawful meth conspiracy, a Class 2 felony, and tampering with anhydrous ammonia equipment, a Class 3 felony, against Scott Wiggins were dismissed in exchange for his guilty plea, according to court records.

Judge Paul W. Lamar also ordered Scott Wiggins to pay court costs and a $1,000 drug assessment.

Stacy Wiggins, 24, is scheduled for a pretrial hearing at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 3. Burgess, 26, is scheduled for a pretrial hearing at 9 a.m. Aug. 6.