WJJQ LOCAL NEWS
Man will head to trial in meth lab sting
Jake M. Barttelt, 29, of Merrill, was bound over for
trial Thursday afternoon on one count of manufacture/delivery of
methamphetamine (<=3 grams) and three counts of bail jumping. One count of
storing ammonia in an illegal container is being dismissed, according to
Lincoln County DA Don Dunphy.
Barttelt was arrested Aug. 18, along with five other individuals, under suspicion of manufacturing meth at a Town of Corning cabin.
At Barttelt’s preliminary court hearing Thursday,
Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department investigator Brian Kingsley testified that
Barttelt was arrested following a traffic stop near the cabin, which is near
the intersection of Savaske Rd. and Hagar City Rd. Barttelt, who was a
passenger in the vehicle, had a strong odor of ammonia coming from him,
Kingsley testified. Anhydrous ammonia is commonly used in the process of
manufacturing meth, Kingsley testified.
In the early morning hours of Aug. 19, the Lincoln
County Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant on the cabin. Found in
the search were a modified LP cylinder with an odor of ammonia, a coffee
grinder with white powder residue, remnants of lithium batteries, a milk jug
with a hose in it, cans of starter fluid and coffee filters. All those items
are consistent with the manufacturing of meth, Kingsley testified. The filters
tested positive for the presence of meth, he stated.
Kingsley testified that he had a conversation with
Barttelt at the Lincoln County Jail on Aug. 23. During that conversation,
Barttelt acknowledged that there was meth cooking going on at the cabin,
Kingsley testified.
Defense
attorney Gary McCartan argued that the charges should be dismissed, as Barttelt
was not seen in the cabin, nor was any evidence discovered in the vehicle in
which he was riding. McCartan argued that there is no evidence that Barttelt
was in possession of meth.
Dunphy argued that the odor of ammonia on Barttelt
places him at the cabin. Judge Jay
Tlusty found probable cause to bind Barttelt over for trial. A scheduling
conference has been set for Sept. 3.
Five other people have been charged in connection
with the alleged meth manufacturing at the cabin. They are Kellie Prager, Tracy
Lehmann, Nichalaus Westphall and Daniel Mach, all of Wausau, and Daniel Bohman,
Irma. All five have scheduling conferences set for Sept. 24 in Lincoln County
Circuit Court.
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