DARLINGTON — The last co-defendant from a January 2019 meth bust at a Town of Belmont trailer home was sentenced March 11 in Lafayette County Circuit Court.
Christopher Don Vinson, 32, was sentenced to two years in prison and three years on extended supervision after pleading guilty to felony charges of manufacturing or delivering methamphetamine, maintaining a drug trafficking place and bail jumping.
He also pleaded guilty to a felony charge of neglecting a child younger than 6 plus misdemeanor counts of neglecting a child and criminal damage to property. For these convictions, Vinson is ordered to serve a consecutive sentence of two years on probation with an imposed and stayed 18-month prison sentence and 18 months of extended supervision.
Related charges, including multiple counts of bail jumping, were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
Co-defendants Nicole Ann Ruch, 39, and James J. Cubit, 40, were sentenced in August for similar meth-related charges. Ruch was ordered to serve 18 months in prison, three years on extended supervision and a consecutive three years on probation, while Cubit was sentenced to two years in prison and three years on extended supervision.
The cases stem from an investigation into drug activity at a trailer in the Evergreen Village Mobile Home Park just east of Platteville on County XX in the Town of Belmont, along with subsequent offenses.
According to court records, a confidential source purchased 1.4 grams of meth for $170 from Vinson and Ruch on Dec. 13 and 2.4 grams for $225 from Cubit on Jan. 7.
Two children, ages 7 and 4, were observed in the trailer with adults smoking meth around them. A search warrant executed on the home a few weeks later found scales and pipes, smoking devices and supplies for selling meth in a tackle box, as well as drug residue on night stands in both bedrooms.
Officers noted filthy and unsanitary conditions around the home, including soiled clothes and garbage, a smell of cat urine, a non-working bathroom toilet, standing water in the bathtub and pans with leftover food crusted in.
District Attorney Jenna Gill said she wasn’t sure Vinson grasped the significance of the case.
“Selling meth is extremely dangerous, but this case is really about the kids,” Gill said, noting that both children tested positive for meth.
“The co-defendant Ms. Ruch stated the children had different issues and struggles and some of their symptoms were from meth, but the effects on them are unknown,” Gill said.
Instead of taking responsibility, she added, Vinson and his co-defendants are blaming each other. In addition, Vinson wasn’t compliant with the court while out on bond, continued to use meth and at one point even cut off his GPS tracking bracelet, Gill said.
“He does not really understand the gravity of his actions,” Gill said.
Vinson’s attorney Peter Bartelt acknowledged his client “hasn’t accepted responsibility,” but he added that “accepting responsibility manifests in different ways.”
“Entering pleas and coming here before court helps,” Bartelt said.
Vinson has a “profound drug addiction” due to a troubled childhood that included mental, emotional, physical and sexual abuse.
“He was trying to cope with these issues and self-medicating with controlled substances for the greater portion of life,” Bartelt said.
Vinson does want to get treatment, Bartelt said, and “prison is appropriate for him because that is where he can get his treatment.”
Judge Duane Jorgenson agreed with the joint recommendation from Gill and Bartelt but added probation so he can review how Vinson is doing in drug treatment.
“These are incredibly dangerous and serious offenses,” Jorgenson said. “The scourge that is meth and the harm that can be done by it is incalculable. I’m not sure if there is a more addicting substance than methamphetamine.”