Man Given 20-Year State Sentence in Meth Case

Reed was found guilty of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine at the close of a jury trial Oct. 4, 2012.

Prior to sentencing Monday, Judge Dalton heard arguments and denied a motion by the defense attorney for a new trial. The judge also found no probable cause to believe Reed had ineffective counsel in the case.

The sheriff was allowed to assign an additional guard to transport Reed to the department of corrections, according to the judge’s order.

Reed, who has a long history of arrests and charges over a number of years in Franklin County and adjacent areas, also is awaiting sentencing in a federal drug-related case.

A federal jury found Reed guilty last week of felony charges of possession of pseudoephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine and maintaining a residence for the manufacture of methamphetamine. A not guilty verdict was handed up on a charge of creating a substantial risk to life.

U.S. District Court Judge Catherine D. Perry, who presided over Reed’s two-day trial, scheduled a sentencing hearing for March 26 in that case. Each of the felony convictions carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and/or fines of up to $250,000.

Authorities alleged that Reed engaged in the methamphetamine conspiracy between October 2009 and February 2012.

The case presented at trial stems from a November 2009 arrest when Union police and officers with the Franklin County Narcotics Enforcement Unit responded to a home in the 600 block of North Washington Avenue in Union. An active meth lab and some finished methamphetamine were seized from the home.

The federal conspiracy case was investigated by the county drug task force, Union police, Montgomerey County Sheriff’s Office and the East Central Missouri Drug Task Force.