Two men caught allegedly stealing anhydrous ammonia from farmer

LITHIUM, Mo. -- Two men were charged with drug possession and theft Wednesday after deputies allegedly caught them stealing anhydrous ammonia from a Perry County farmer earlier that day.

Thomas B. Wilson, 31, of Paris, Mo., is charged with felony theft/attempted theft of anhydrous ammonia, misdemeanor possession of up to 35 grams of marijuana and unlawful use of drug paraphernalia. He is in Perry County Jail on a $50,000 cash only bond.

Wilson faces a maximum of 15 years in prison and two years in jail if convicted of all charges.

Joseph H. Hendrix, 41, of Fenton, Mo., is charged with felony theft/attempted theft of anhydrous ammonia, unlawful release of anhydrous ammonia, possession of a controlled substance, possessing a chemical with intent to manufacture a controlled substance, possession of anhydrous ammonia in a nonapproved container and misdemeanor charges of unlawful use of drug paraphernalia and possession of up to 35 grams of marijuana.

Hendrix was also charged with second-degree trespassing.

Thomas B. Wilson

He in is Perry County Jail on a $100,000 cash-only bond.

If convicted of all charges, Hendrix faces a maximum prison sentence of 50 years for the felony charges and up to two years in jail on the misdemeanor charges.

According to a report from the Perry County Sheriff's Department, a farmer called authorities at about 5:30 a.m. when he saw Hendrix stealing anhydrous ammonia from a tank on his property in Lithium.

Anhydrous ammonia is an ingredient used to manufacture methamphetamine.

When deputies arrived, Hendrix escaped on foot, leaving behind two 3- to 5-pound air canisters he was attempting to fill with the substance, Sheriff Gary Schaff said.

Schaff said Hendrix was found by deputies hiding in a ditch and taken into custody.

While searching for Hendrix, authorities found Wilson waiting at the rear of a nearby parking lot in a car. Wilson was reportedly waiting to pick up Hendrix after the theft, Schaff said.

Wilson was in possession of illegal drugs and paraphernalia, Schaff said, and was taken into custody and transported to the Perry County Sheriff's Department.

carel@semissourian.com

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