An Aberdeen man authorities said intended to distribute significant amounts of synthetic drugs pleaded not guilty to a host of charges Tuesday.
Brandon J. Messmer, 36, requested a jury trial. He faces 11 charges in all, including:
• Two counts of possession of with intent to distribute bath salts.
• Two counts of possession of with intent to distribute synthetic cannabis.
• Two counts of possession of bath salts.
• Two counts of possession of synthetic cannabis.
• Two counts of keeping a place for the sale or use of illegal drugs.
• Conspiracy to distribute synthetic cannabis.
The keeping a place charges are felonies, each punishable by as much as five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The other charges are felonies each punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.
Lori Ehlers, chief deputy state's attorney, said the roughly 2 pounds of synthetic cannabis and quarter pound of bath salts sent in for testing after the Aug. 8 raid that led to the charges were, at the time, the largest amounts ever sent to the state lab.
Messmer had been released on a $20,000 bond, but is back in jail again because he broke a bond condition. In court, he admitted he huffed from an air duster can, such as those used to clean computer keyboards.
In other court news:
• Robert C. Vandeputte, 21, of Aberdeen was granted a suspended imposition on two felony drug charges. That means the incidents won't go on his record if he follows probation rules.
Vandeputte previously pleaded guilty to possession of the designer drug called 2-CI, which is a hallucinogen, and possession of with intent to distribute more than an ounce but less than 8 ounces of marijuana. He was given identical sentences on each charge: 60 days in jail, four years probation and $804 in fines and fees. The jail terms will be served concurrently. He must also make restitution stemming from testing costs and damage caused by hit-and-run accidents, though the hit-and-run charges and other counts were dismissed in return for his guilty pleas.
Ehlers, who requested a prison term for Vandeputte, noted that on April 14, after his initial arrest earlier that month, Vandeputte had three hit-and-run accidents on his way to work. Those accidents damaged three vehicles and a gas line, she said. Chris Dohrer, Vandeputte's court-appointed attorney, noted Vandeputte's young age and that he had already spent five months in jail in requesting the suspended imposition and probation. Vandeputte said he used to be blinded by his addiction, but that he now wants to turn his life around and attend college.
Judge Tony Portra ultimately gave Vandeputte another chance, but ordered the 60 days in jail in addition to the time Vandeputte's already served.
The 2-CI charge is a felony punishable by as much as 10 years in state prison and a $20,000 fine. The marijuana charge is a felony punishable by as much as five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
• Michael S. Bice, 22, of Aberdeen pleaded guilty to improperly obtaining the prescription drug morphine. He was sentenced to 29 days in jail and two years probation. He must also pay $504 in fines and fees and make restitution of $108 for testing costs and $450 in buy money. He was granted a suspended imposition of sentence. That means the incident won't go on his record if he follows probation rules.
Bill Gerdes, Bice's attorney, said Bice had a prescription for morphine, but that in August 2011, he got more of the painkiller than he was entitled to. Ehlers said Bice gave the extra pills to others.
The crime is punishable by as much as 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. In exchange for his guilty plea, two charges of distribution of morphine were dismissed.
• Nathan C. Ruff, 29, of Ottumwa, Iowa, pleaded not guilty to felony drunken driving and a misdemeanor charge of speeding.
The third drunken driving charge is punishable by as much as two years in prison and a $4,000 fine.
