Dexter man convicted of meth charges in Union County, Ill.

JONESBORO, Ill. -- A Dexter, Mo., man has been convicted in Union County on four drug charges dealing with both methamphetamine transportation and the transportation of ingredients used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

A jury in Jonesboro found Kevin W. Rimel, 36, guilty Tuesday on four of the five charges filed against him.

The charges stem from a March 15 arrest in Union County, at which time Rimel, along with two other men, were traveling on Illinois Highway 3, about one-half mile north of Ware. The four were arrested after Union County Sheriff David Livesay found them to have several items in their possession commonly used in the procurement of methamphetamine. Among the items confiscated were a container of anhydrous ammonia, lithium batteries and a bag of crushed pseudoephedrine pills.

Arrested with Rimel were David A. Burnett, 44, of Dexter, and Dwayne E. Mosbey, 37, of Zalma.

Accoding to Union County State's Attorney Allen W. James, Burnett and Mosbey were found by the sheriff standing beside their parked vehicle along Highway 3, and Rimel was found concealing himself in a weeded area off the roadway.

Rimel has been held at the Tri-County Detention Center in Union County since his arrest. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Aug. 26. Mosbey has pleaded guilty to his charges and Burnett remains in custody, awaiting trial.

Rimel's convictions of engaging in a methamphetamine conspiracy and unlawful possession, procurement or transportation of anhydrous ammonia are Class 1 felonies and are subject to a four- to 15-year prison sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections, with a possible fine of up to $25,000.

In addition, according to the state's attorney's office, his conviction for unlawful possession, procurement or transportation of methamphetamine manufacturing material is a Class 2 felony that is subject to imprisonment of three to seven years, again with a possible $25,000 fine.

Rimel's conviction for tampering with anhydrous ammonia equipment is a Class 3 felony, subject to imprisonment of two to five years with the $25,000 fine again a possibility.

"At this time," the state's attorney said, "it is believed that all sentences will be served concurrently unless his [Rimel[']s] presentence investigation report determines that he is eligible for consecutive sentencing. Therefore, at this time, the maximum sentence Rimel could receive is 15 years."

Rimel's conviction marks the first case that has proceeded all the way to a jury trial as a product of the grant that allows for mutual aid between the Union and Jackson County Task Forces and for the prosecution of methamphetamine crimes by the grant-funded methamphetamine special prosecutor for Union and Jackson Counties, according to the report from James' office.