Three defendants have been sentenced, one awaits sentencing, and a warrant is out for the arrest of the fourth defendant in connection with methamphetamine arrests after a traffic stop Aug. 8.

A warrant was issued for Keith R. Ellis, 30, Dubuque, after he failed to appear in Grant County Circuit Court Nov. 27 for a status conference on a charge of party to possession of methamphetamine precursors. Ellis pleaded not guilty to the charge Aug. 20.

Troy A. Laufenberg, 21, formerly of Dubuque, pleaded no contest Nov. 1 to charges of being a party to possessing methamphetamine precursors and one count of possession of methamphetamine. An additional methamphetamine possession charge and a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia to manufacture methamphetamine were dismissed.

Laufenberg was sentenced to two years in prison, placed on extended supervision for 3½ years, and placed on 3½ years probation, concurrent with the prison and extended supervision sentences.

The prison and extended supervision sentences were stayed; Laufenberg is an inmate at the West Union Residential Facility in West Union, Iowa.

Teresa Lynn Roth, 33, Dubuque, pleaded guilty Sept. 26 to possession of methamphetamine precursors. Charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and marijuana were dismissed.

Roth was placed on two years probation, including 15 days in jail, maintaining full-time work or searching for work, and submitting to random drug testing.

Jenny Marie Pike, 22, Dubuque, pleaded guilty Nov. 27 to a charge of being a party to possession of methamphetamine precursors.

Pike was placed on three years probation, including 15 days in jail and employment of at least 30 hours per week. The jail time can be reduced by inpatient drug treatment, and the charge can be expunged upon successful completion of probation.

Courtney Lynn O’Neill, 23, Dubuque, pleaded no contest Nov. 21 to a party to possession of methamphetamine precursors. O’Neill is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 11.

The arrests followed a Grant County Sheriff’s Department traffic stop on U.S. 151 Aug. 8, which followed a report of an impaired driver leaving Platteville. A search of the car O’Neill was driving revealed methamphetamine, parts of a portable meth lab, ingredients for making methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia — all purchased from Platteville-area businesses just before the traffic stop, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

•    A UW–Platteville student is scheduled to have a trial in January on felony drug charges.
Mark J. Curda, 18, Greenfield, will have a status conference Jan. 10 on charges of manufacturing or delivering drug paraphernalia, possession of methamphetamine precursors, and knowingly possessing methamphetamine waste.

Curda pleaded not guilty to the charges Nov. 16.

Curda was arrested after a fire in his Rountree Commons dorm room that forced an evacuation of the residence hall early Nov. 10.