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| Judge Finds Probable Cause in Local Meth Case |
A California man, who says he comes to Galesburg several times a year, will be tried on felony methamphetamine charges.
Judge Dwayne Morrison on Monday found probable cause in the case of 39-year old Timothy Babbitt, who faces seven felony charges, including the Class-X counts of Participation in Meth Production and Possession of Methamphetamine Precursors.
Galesburg Police Officer Patrick Kisler is assigned to the Multi-County Narcotics Enforcement Group. He testified during a preliminary hearing that he and MEG officers went to the America's Best Value Inn on the Public Square August 7th around 5:15 a-m to execute a search warrant and discovered in a room allegedly registered in Babbitt's name, a bank bag with methamphetamine, syringes, a California I.D. card and other items in it.
Kisler says agents also found a digital scale, a chemical-based drug-cutting agent, a police scanner and portable radios.
A search of a storage unit allegedly also in Babbitt's name later in the day also is believed to have turned up anhydrous ammonia and other meth-making items.
During cross-examination, however, Kisler admitted that Babbitt was never actually seen at the storage unit, fingerprints were never taken and a police interview with Babbitt where he allegedly confessed to having meth was never videotaped.
Kisler says that's because two agents were in the interview room.
Morrison also reduced Babbitt's bond from $500,000, to $375,000 and accepted Babbitt's not guilty plea and demand for a jury trial.
Babbitt is scheduled to return to court November 2nd for a pre-trial conference. |
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| 08 25 09 by Newsroom |
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