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Two face 11 meth charges
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Two Platteville people face a total of 11 drug charges after the search of their house by the Richland–Iowa–Grant Drug Task Force March 4.

William R. Nida, 39, and Donna M. Lowther, 53, both face charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine precursors, purchase of pseudoephedrine for another with the intent to facilitate another person’s manufacture of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for both this week. The meth charges both face include maximum sentences of 13 years in prison and $30,000 in fines. 

Nida faces an additional charge of possession with intent to deliver 3 to 10 grams of methamphetamine, which has a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.

Bond for both was set at $1,000 cash after their first court appearance Wednesday. Both are in the Grant County Jail, according to online court records.

The drug task force and the state Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation Clandestine Lab executed the search warrant at 395 N. Water St. March 4 around 11:30 a.m. Detectives dressed from head to toe in hazardous-materials gear brought various items out of the triplex, putting them on a tarp on the front lawn.

More than an hour after the search began, a man later identified as Nida, followed about half an hour later by a woman later identified as Lowther, were taken into custody.

Grant County sheriff’s deputies and Platteville police and firefighters assisted at the scene. North Water Street was blocked off between Main Street and Madison Street for more than two hours while the search took place.

Neither Nida nor Lowther have previous criminal records, according to court records.

A 4-year-old child in the house was turned over to Grant County Social Services.