Public Affairs
Reporting CJ 321
Andrea Albers - albersam@uwec.edu
Altoona Man Facing Felony Drug Charges,
Released on Plea Agreement
By: Andrea Albers
EAU CLAIRE, WIS- An agreement has been reached in a local drug case. Thirty-five year old George Peterson of Altoona accepted the agreement in Eau Claire County Circuit Court after pleading guilty to possession of methamphetamine, THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) and drug paraphernalia October 21.
According to the criminal complaint, Peterson and his wife Megan were arrested at their home in Altoona on May 20 after officers arrived at the residence to check on Mrs. Peterson and her children, where the couple admitted to being under the influence of methamphetamine. Officers later found substances at the home that tested positive for meth and THC along with drug paraphernalia.
Judge Lisa Stark presided over the hearing, which had initially been set for trial November 11.
At the hearing Judge Stark questioned Peterson about his personal progress since being arrested in May. Peterson choked up during his reply saying, "I've been wanting to be sober for a long time, and I'm so happy about it".
Peterson has been previously convicted of a hit-and-run and operating with a revoked license back in 2005. Peterson and wife Megan have also been under watch by Dunn County Child Protection Services since May when they were discovered to be raising children in home where illegal drugs were being used and stored.
Methamphetamine has been the nation's most serious local drug problem, according to a July 2005 report by the National Association of Counties, and Peterson is just one of many affected locally in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin DEA reports that the production and abuse of meth has been recently expanding from Minnesota and Iowa to rural counties in many parts of north-western Wisconsin.
Link to 'Methamphetamine in Minnesota' ; report by the Minnesota Department of Health
According to records from the Eau Claire County Courthouse, cases of meth use in Eau Claire have reached a record high during the past three years. In 2005 University of Wisconsin Eau-Claire Police chief David Sprick commented on the booming epidemic saying, "You don't have to go very far to find people in our city abusing, (being) arrested for meth".
Now, records show there has been a significant decline in the number of Meth cases as of lately. The Eau Claire County Courthouse saw thirty-six cases in 2005, and that number drastically dropped to just six cases in 2006 and has continued to dwindle. The rapid drop in meth use and production is attributed to newer legislation, making it harder to obtain cold medicines that contain pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient in meth.
Methamphetamine possession is a felony that carries a maximum penalty of up to ten-thousand dollars in fines, 3 years in prison and revocation of a driver’s license anywhere from six months to five years.
Link to Methamphtamine Photos; US Department of Justice DEA
By accepting the terms of his plea agreement Peterson will not face conviction during his twenty-four month probationary period. Terms to Peterson’s agreement include; ADOA (Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse) assessment, no drugs or drug paraphernalia, no alcohol, bars or taverns, a twelve month drivers license suspension, and sixty days in jail with Huber for work and childcare.
Peterson will also be able to replace thirty days of his jail sentence with two-hundred and forty hours of community service, something he says he is planning to do.
In addition, Peterson must appear to serve jail time within sixty days of his hearing. In a request to delay his appearance Peterson told Judge Stark, “If my hands are tied, I will do what I have to do”, but asked for an extension of the sixty days to ninety so he would be able to spend the holidays with his wife and six-month-old child.
Judge Stark agreed to extend the deadline to ninety days and replied, “You have a young child. I think it will be good for you to be home with your wife during the holiday season".
Peterson is due back in court October 2010 at the completion of his twenty-four month probation. If it appears he has met the terms of his agreement no further sentencing will take place.
Eau Claire Woman Facing Charges
in Six Criminal Counts
By: Andrea Albers
EAU CLAIRE, WIS- Eau Claire resident Tiffany M. Olson, also known as Tiffany M. Lindow faces up to three years in prison and fines of five thousand dollars stemming from fraud charges filed early last year according to the Eau Claire County Court.
Olson, who is currently under house arrest, appeared in court Tuesday October 7th for a plea hearing.
According to the criminal complaint, Olson attempted to pass several forged prescriptions at Ed’s Pharmacy in Bloomer, WI in an attempt to obtain oxycontin, adderall and vicoprofen. Olson, who denied stealing the blank prescriptions as well as writing them, was arrested at the scene January 5, 2007.
Olson accepted a plea bargain Tuesday that will hold her accountable for three previous misdemeanor charges; cocaine possession, OWI second offense and failure to quarantine a dog, as well as three felony counts including manufacturing and delivering narcotics, bail jumping and fraud at a sentencing in December.
Judge Benjamin Proctor released Olson into house arrest under the care of her sister on a four thousand dollar bail. Prosecuting attorney for the state, Chad Verbeten, initially objected to the release stating that a five thousand dollar bail would be more appropriate and any less would be “setting her up for failure”.
Olson must abide to the terms of the house arrest that indicate she remain on the premise at all times, leaving only for court approved appointments and meetings with her children. Olson must also report to the Chippewa County Sheriff’s department daily until her sentencing on December 2, 2008 at the Eau Claire County Courthouse.