4/14/11 Mansfield man pleads to possessing chemicals used to make meth
By Nick Sabo
April 14, 2011
261
A Mansfield man pleaded guilty Thursday April 14 to being in possession of materials used to make methamphetamine.
Andrew Stout, 33,646 Sherwood Drive, pleaded in Holmes County Common Pleas Court to one count of attempted illegal assembly or possession of chemicals for the manufacture of methamphetamine. He faces up to 18 months in prison on the charge.
The charge stems from a Feb. 23 traffic stop in Holmes County. According to Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Chris Oehl, Stout was a passenger in a car stopped for a traffic violation. A search of the vehicle by Holmes County Sheriffs deputies turned up five boxes of pseudoephedrine cold pills, lantern fuel, batteries and tools typically used to remove lithium strips from batteries. The chemicals and pills are primary components when cooking meth.
Stout initially told deputies the batteries were for a flashlight, Oehl said, but the batteries were the wrong size. Stout admitted to possessing the chemicals but said he has never made meth.
There were a series of conversations that took place where (Stout)...said, Im not a cook, Im a meth addict, I dont know how to cook, Oehl said.
The driver was issued a minor traffic citation, Oehl said.
Judge Robert D. Rinfret amended Stouts bond terms to include drug testing. He warned Stout that a positive test could result in his bond being revoked.
Stout is to pay the costs of the drug tests.
Rinfret ordered a presentence investigation and scheduled sentencing for June 8.
