MONROE — A three-year prison sentence was ordered last week for a Monroe man convicted of cooking meth at his home in the 2600 block of 12th Avenue.
Ethan D. Studer, 23, was also sentenced March 6 in Green County Circuit Court to five years on extended supervision, to follow his prison sentence, after pleading no contest to felony charges of bail jumping and manufacture or delivery of an amphetamine.
Eight other meth-related felony charges were dismissed but “read in,” meaning Judge James Beer could consider them at sentencing.
Studer is ordered to maintain absolute sobriety and undergo drug counseling and treatment. He is eligible for substance abuse programming in prison.
His parents spoke to the court at his sentencing, as did a counselor from a substance abuse and mental health counseling service in Stoughton.
In a letter to the court, Studer’s recent employers wrote they were “very skeptical” about hiring Studer “given his background and current situation,” but they would hire him back again.
“Ethan has learned quite a bit since he started here,” wrote Ryan and Tabitha Mellenberger, owners of Discount America Hobby and Motor Sports of Monroe. “He has been very helpful (in) getting our track ready to race with our upcoming strict schedule.”
Studer demonstrated enthusiasm and interest in learning more about auto body maintenance and painting and “has done any task we have asked him, even doing the garbage and cleaning,” wrote the Mellenbergers.
“While we can never promise anything, we would definitely consider having Ethan work for us again, especially if he is able to obtain any certificates for the industries. We really do wish him the best and encourage him to continue with his sobriety and learn new coping techniques,” they wrote.
According to court records, Studer sold $1,730 worth of meth to a confidential informant over the course of three undercover drug buys in September 2017. A subsequent search of his home found a “one pot” operation for making meth in a Gatorade bottle and materials for packaging the drug and selling it.
Studer was released on a $2,000 cash bail after his arrest in that case, but police determined he continued his involvement with meth after his release. Court documents include transcripts of extensive texting between Studer and Trevor A. Smith, 19, Monroe, and Austin M. Smith, 21, Orangeville. In the text messages, they make plans to drive to area pharmacies to buy pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient in meth production.
Each of the text exchanges corresponds to a pseudoephedrine purchase documented by the National Pseudoephedrine Log Exchange — at a Walgreens in Janesville, the Shopko in Monroe and a Walgreens in Madison. In each case, Studer was apparently the driver while others made the purchases.
The texts also show Studer and the Smiths were trying to figure out a time and place to cook meth for themselves without a roommate around.
Austin and Trevor Smith are currently serving prison sentences for meth-related convictions in Green County. According to Department of Corrections records, Austin is in a facility in Madison and Trevor is in a facility in Stanley, a town about 35 miles northeast of Eau Claire.