Southern Illinois man found guilty on meth-related charges

A Union County, Ill., man who sought to escape capture on methamphetamine charges by striking a police dog with a tree branch received 15 years in prison, prosecutors announced Thursday.

John Gleghorn, 48, of Alto Pass, Ill., pleaded guilty to manufacturing methamphetamine, a Class X felony, and delivery of a controlled substance, a Class 2 felony. He was sentenced to eight years on the manufacturing charge and seven years on the delivery charge, Union County State's Attorney Allen James said in a statement.

When officers of the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group served a search warrant at Gleghorn's home on June 14, James said, Gleghorn fled into a wooded area near his home.

A police dog from the Williamson County Canine Unit was sent into the woods. When the dog approached Gleghorn struck it in the head, then smacked the dog repeatedly with a tree branch, James said.

The dog was able to subdue Gleghorn, James said.

The search of Gleghorn's home revealed numerous anhydrous ammonia tanks, ether, methamphetamine oil and a loaded .22-caliber rifle, James said.

In a separate search by the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group and the Illinois State Police, officers found a quart jar of liquid and 200 grams of "pill matter" that tested positive for methamphetamine.

Another jar yielded 60 to 80 grams of "pill matter" that also tested positive for methamphetamine.

Hazardous material teams were called in to decontaminate and clean the house after each search warrant, James said.

Gleghorn was a major manufacturer and distributor of methamphetamine in Union County, James said. Meth is an epidemic in the county, he added, and continuing efforts are necessary to bring it under control.