BOOTHEEL NURSE PLEADS GUILTY TO TRYING TO SELL METH

A 33-year-old Butler County man pleaded guilty in federal court to attempting to make and sell methamphetamine, the U.S. attorney's office said.

Robert S. Pruett, a licensed practical nurse, told federal District Judge Rodney Sippel that he had distributed a small amount of meth from his residence near Broseley, Mo., in January this year. He also said he sold pseudoephedrine pills for profit to people who wanted to make methamphetamine, said Abbie Crites-Leoni, special assistant U.S. attorney.

Other ingredients used to make meth were found during a search of Pruett's residence. They included starting fluid, numerous gallons of stove fuel and more than 10,000 pseudoephedrine pills.

Pruett is charged with attempting to manufacture meth, possession of pseudoephedrine to make meth, and distribution of meth. He will be sentenced Oct. 1, and faces a maximum of life in prison.