The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Local News

May 5, 2009

Drug stings completed

A 17-year-old teen is facing the most serious charges stemming from a series of drug busts in Brown County during the past month.

The busts were for the sale and possession of methamphetamine, cocaine, hallucinogenic mushrooms, marijuana and regulated painkillers, said Jeff Hohensee, commander of the Brown, Lyon, Redwood County Drug Task Force.

Prosecutors are requesting that the teen, Nicholas Joshua Meidl, be certified as an adult. He’s facing a first-degree drug charge for allegedly selling cocaine and could face a long prison term.

Second-degree charges have been filed against David Edward Eckstrand, 43, of New Ulm and Chasity Rose Lehrke, 24, of Hanska for April incidents involving sales.

Third-degree charges have been filed against Robert Orlin Miller, 53 of Hanska; Jamie Lee McGinnis, 19, of New Ulm; Jason Michael Waters, 31, of Henderson and Randy John Melchert, 35, of New Ulm for incidents spanning from January through April.

Two more people, Cole Sellner and Eric Martinez, have been arrested, Hohensee said, but had not yet been charged. Hohensee did not provide information about their ages and where they are from.

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