MONROE - Two Monroe men and a South Wayne woman charged with manufacturing methamphetamine appeared Tuesday in Green County Circuit Court.
Jose R. Orellana, 50, and Anthony L. Herrera, 26, both of Monroe, appeared in custody. Alexandra A. Orellana, 21, South Wayne, appeared on bond.
Jose Orellana appeared for his preliminary hearing, represented by attorney Jair Alvarez.
Each defendant is charged with a Class C felony count of manufacturing methamphetamine and a Class H felony count of knowingly possessing methamphetamine waste. Jose Orellana, Herrera and Alexandra Orellana, respectively, each also face seven, five and three Class I felony counts of purchasing more than 7.5 grams of pseudoephedrine within a 30-day period.
Jose Orellana also faces a Class I felony charge of maintaining a drug trafficking place.
The charges stem from an incident on Dec. 28 when drug enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Cadiz residence, where they found a homemade methamphetamine manufacturing laboratory.
Michael Mortimer, an agent from the State Line Area Narcotics Team who was present at the search, said the lab could have produced more than 200 grams of methamphetamine, based on the supplies found.
Mortimer testified at the hearing, explaining the process by which he traced the defendants' suspicious purchases of pseudoephedrine - a common methamphetamine precursor - over several months.
Green County District Attorney Gary Luhman argued that Mortimer's records constituted probable cause to bind over Jose Orellana for trial. Green County Circuit Judge James Beer agreed, citing precedent that any "reasonable inference" of probable cause would be sufficient to bind over a defendant.
Jose Orellana will next appear in court for an arraignment Feb. 17.
Alexandra Orellana and Herrera both waived their right to a preliminary trial. They will appear for arraignments and to have their bail set on Friday.
Jose R. Orellana, 50, and Anthony L. Herrera, 26, both of Monroe, appeared in custody. Alexandra A. Orellana, 21, South Wayne, appeared on bond.
Jose Orellana appeared for his preliminary hearing, represented by attorney Jair Alvarez.
Each defendant is charged with a Class C felony count of manufacturing methamphetamine and a Class H felony count of knowingly possessing methamphetamine waste. Jose Orellana, Herrera and Alexandra Orellana, respectively, each also face seven, five and three Class I felony counts of purchasing more than 7.5 grams of pseudoephedrine within a 30-day period.
Jose Orellana also faces a Class I felony charge of maintaining a drug trafficking place.
The charges stem from an incident on Dec. 28 when drug enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Cadiz residence, where they found a homemade methamphetamine manufacturing laboratory.
Michael Mortimer, an agent from the State Line Area Narcotics Team who was present at the search, said the lab could have produced more than 200 grams of methamphetamine, based on the supplies found.
Mortimer testified at the hearing, explaining the process by which he traced the defendants' suspicious purchases of pseudoephedrine - a common methamphetamine precursor - over several months.
Green County District Attorney Gary Luhman argued that Mortimer's records constituted probable cause to bind over Jose Orellana for trial. Green County Circuit Judge James Beer agreed, citing precedent that any "reasonable inference" of probable cause would be sufficient to bind over a defendant.
Jose Orellana will next appear in court for an arraignment Feb. 17.
Alexandra Orellana and Herrera both waived their right to a preliminary trial. They will appear for arraignments and to have their bail set on Friday.