Tuesday, January 29, 2008 9:21 PM CST
Rural Cowden man pleads guilty to making meth, avoids prison time
By DAVE FOPAY, Staff Writer
dfopay@jg-tc.com
CHARLESTON — A Shelby County man was able to avoid prison time by agreeing to drug court in a case that also involved a Mattoon school teacher.
Donald R. Howell, 35, of rural Cowden pleaded guilty to a charge of manufacture of a controlled substance that accused him of making methamphetamine on April 16, 2004. That was the same day as the arrest of Carol A. Switzer, who was a Mattoon kindergarten teacher, and a co-defendant on methamphetamine manufacturing charges.
Howell also pleaded guilty to an obstructing justice charge alleging he fled from police and tried to dispose of a bag of methamphetamine before he was arrested on Dec. 20, 2006.
Under the agreement reached in his case, Howell was admitted to Coles County’s drug court program. The program is sometimes an alternative to prison time or probation for people who admit to their charges and agree to weekly court appearances, regular drug testing and other monitoring and requirements.
Also with the agreement, a charge of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine was dismissed. That charge accused Howell of supplying cold medicine with pseudoephedrine, a methamphetamine ingredient, to Switzer, her co-defendant James Christopher Dent and a third suspect, Carrie A. Ward, from October 2004 to April 2004.
The conspiracy charge would have required a prison sentence of six to 30 years had Howell been convicted. The manufacturing charge to which he pleaded guilty can normally result in probation, but without the drug court agreement, a three- to 14-year prison term would have been required because of prior burglary convictions.
Howell could still face regular sentencing possibilities for the convictions if he isn’t successful in completing the drug court program.
Switzer and Dent were arrested in Douglas County after they were allegedly seen buying cold medicine with pseudoephedrine at two stores there. That led to the reported discovery of methamphetamine materials and weapons at the Mattoon residence where they both then lived.
Switzer, 46, pleaded guilty in May 2006 and was placed on probation for 2½ years, and her sentence included a requirement that she surrender her state teaching certificate. She now resides in western Illinois, according to court records. Dent, 45, pleaded guilty the following month and was later sentenced to a prison term of 4½ years.
Ward, 33, of Charleston pleaded guilty in July of last year to a methamphetamine precursor possession charge and also was placed in the drug court program. She later successfully completed the program and the charge against her was dismissed.
In Howell’s case, Circuit Judge Gary Jacobs agreed to admit him to drug court based on a recommendation from Assistant State’s Attorney Mick McAvoy and defense attorney Walter Lookofsky of Shelbyville.
Contact Dave Fopay at dfopay@jg-tc.com or 348-5733.
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85CHSGrad wrote on Feb 5, 2008 9:40 AM:
Under the agreement reached in his case, Howell was admitted to Coles County’s drug court program. The program is "sometimes" an alternative to prison time or probation for people who admit to their charges and agree to weekly court appearances, regular drug testing and other monitoring and requirements."
Making meth isn't enough to get a prison sentence in Coles County? Isn't this the same drug that landed Jason Abernathy on the front page? Isn't McAvoy the same prosecutor trying to give Mr. Abernathy up to 10 years, just for possessing meth? And what determines the "sometimes" they get drug court? Prior convictions? Not in the Howell case! He also had priors. People need to open their eyes and look at what is really going on up at that courthouse.
Corruption,Corruption,Corruption!!! "