Appearing for the first time with their public defenders, two Galesburg men stood before a Knox County judge today on unrelated meth charges filed earlier this week.
Contracted Public Defender Jim Harrell is representing 26-year-old Ricky D. Niswonger, who faces charges of meth manufacturing, meth-related child endangerment as well as several lesser meth and gun charges, including one count of defacing firearm identification by filing down a rifle’s serial number.
Niswonger remains in the Knox County jail on $250,000 bond. For manufacturing between 100 and 400 grams of meth, he could face up to 40 years in prison. Niswonger was arrested yesterday morning.
The second suspect, 23-year-old Benjamin W. Norville, stands accused of a less serious meth manufacturing charge along with five other drug charges. He faces up to 15 years.
Norville is held on $100,000 bond. He is is represented by Chief Public Defender Dave Hansen. Galesburg police arrested Norville Sunday morning.
Niswonger and Norville are scheduled to appear again at 2 p.m. Dec. 29 for bond reduction and preliminary hearings.
Tune in to 93.7 FM and 1400 AM WGIL this Sunday for an in-depth look at recent trends in charges related to meth manufacturing in Knox County.
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