MONROE - A Monroe woman was sentenced to three years of probation Thursday on charges relating to a methamphetamine laboratory in Browntown.
Alexandra Orellana, 22, pleaded no contest in May on a charge of possession of methamphetamine and a charge of purchasing more than 7.5 grams of pseudoephedrine within 30 days, both Class I felonies.
The charges arose after narcotics agents discovered a meth lab in a Browntown residence on Dec. 28, 2015. Orellana was arrested at the scene, along with her father, Jose R. Orellana, 50, Monroe, and a third person, Anthony L. Herrera, 26, Monroe.
Alexandra Orellana's mother, Christina Lee Orellana, 41, Monroe, was arrested in January on similar charges.
Orellana said her family began using and producing meth in 2014, with Orellana helping to sell and produce the product and eventually using the drugs herself.
District attorney Gary Luhman said Alexandra Orellana's family had entrenched her in "a culture of drug use and secrecy." Because of her youth, and the fact that Orellana had little chance to resist her parents, Luhman recommended a lighter sentence.
Orellana's attorney, Jane Bucher, agreed, saying that Orellana had been "trapped between two worlds" for much of her life. In addition to a probationary sentence, Bucher recommended that Orellana's record be expunged if she successfully completes her probation.
Orellana said she had always wanted her family to get clean, but she "didn't have the voice to get them to listen."
Green County Circuit Judge James Beer said Orellana would have been sent to prison were it not for her otherwise clean criminal record. Instead, Beer sentenced her to three years in probation. In addition, the first 30 days of Orellana's sentence will be spent in jail with work release privileges.
Upon completion of her probation, Orellana's record will be expunged, Beer said.
Orellana's parents have not yet been sentenced.
Alexandra Orellana, 22, pleaded no contest in May on a charge of possession of methamphetamine and a charge of purchasing more than 7.5 grams of pseudoephedrine within 30 days, both Class I felonies.
The charges arose after narcotics agents discovered a meth lab in a Browntown residence on Dec. 28, 2015. Orellana was arrested at the scene, along with her father, Jose R. Orellana, 50, Monroe, and a third person, Anthony L. Herrera, 26, Monroe.
Alexandra Orellana's mother, Christina Lee Orellana, 41, Monroe, was arrested in January on similar charges.
Orellana said her family began using and producing meth in 2014, with Orellana helping to sell and produce the product and eventually using the drugs herself.
District attorney Gary Luhman said Alexandra Orellana's family had entrenched her in "a culture of drug use and secrecy." Because of her youth, and the fact that Orellana had little chance to resist her parents, Luhman recommended a lighter sentence.
Orellana's attorney, Jane Bucher, agreed, saying that Orellana had been "trapped between two worlds" for much of her life. In addition to a probationary sentence, Bucher recommended that Orellana's record be expunged if she successfully completes her probation.
Orellana said she had always wanted her family to get clean, but she "didn't have the voice to get them to listen."
Green County Circuit Judge James Beer said Orellana would have been sent to prison were it not for her otherwise clean criminal record. Instead, Beer sentenced her to three years in probation. In addition, the first 30 days of Orellana's sentence will be spent in jail with work release privileges.
Upon completion of her probation, Orellana's record will be expunged, Beer said.
Orellana's parents have not yet been sentenced.