7 sentenced on methamphetamine charges

Seven Southeast Missouri residents were sentenced in federal court Monday to prison terms after pleading guilty to methamphetamine-related charges.

The longest sentence went to a Kennett, Mo., man who was caught with more than 10 grams of meth.

Appearing before U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel, Terry Shawn Davis, 28, of Kennett was sentenced to 12 and one-half years for possession with intent to distribute. In the same case, Tony Midkiff, 38, also of Kennett, was sentenced to seven years on a like charge.

As part of a plea agreement, the pair admitted that on May 8 they possessed 10.4 grams of meth, which they intended to distribute.

In another case, James W. Jarrett, Jr., 36, of Bragg City, Mo., was sentenced to 11 and one-half years in prison after admitting to a felony charge of aiding and abetting the manufacture of meth. His wife, Susan Jarrett, 46, was sentenced to nearly six years on two counts of distribution and one count of aiding and abetting.

As part of a plea agreement, the couple admitted that on May 5 they helped each other make meth in their home. Susan Jarrett also admitted she traded meth for pseudoephedrine pills that she planned to use to make more meth.

Ending a 4-year-old case, Michael J. Wells, 47, of Butler County, Mo., was sentenced to four years in prison after admitting to one felony count of attempting to manufacture meth. He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after his prison term.

Wells was stopped Sept. 16, 1997, by a Carter County sheriff's deputy on Highway 21 north of Grandin, Mo. Officers found an oxygen tank containing anhydrous ammonia, two syringes containing methamphetamine and more than 50 grams of pseudoephedrine and ephedrine. Wells admitted he gathered the materials with the intent to make meth.

Michael Workman, 38, formerly of Cape Girardeau County, was sentenced to nearly three years in prison on a felony count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

Workman admitted that on April 28 he had meth in various plastic bags in his car and that he planned to sell the drugs.

Also in federal court Monday, Mario J. Baker, 20, of Sikeston, Mo., pleaded guilty to one felony count of possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of cocaine base. On June 29, Sikeston police found a bag containing 7.8 grams of cocaine base in Baker's possession. Sentencing was set for April 1.

He now faces a maximum punishment of 40 years imprisonment and a $2 million fine. Baker's sentencing has been set for April 1.