WILLMAR -- Tanya Marie Hampton, 28, of Belgrade, was sentenced Wednesday to 120 days in jail, five years of probation and a $1,500 fine for a felony charge of possessing substances with the intention of making methamphetamine.
Additional sentencing requirements set by Judge Donald M. Spilseth are that Hampton complete chemical use assessment, submit to testing and cooperate in testifying against one of her co-conspirators in the case. She was given credit for 39 days already served in jail. Another felony drug charge, first-degree conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, was dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
The charges stem from a March 16 incident in which Hampton, Dale Dufner, 42, of Watkins, and Isaac Daniel Martinson, 33, of Cold Spring, reportedly traveled through New London, Spicer and Willmar buying pseudoephedrine from pharmacies along the way. The drug is used to make meth. They were arrested after Willmar pharmacists alerted other pharmacies to the suspicious actions of the trio.
Jay Liedman, Hampton's attorney, asked the court for a staggered sentence, because Hampton was only a drug user who was participating in the buys to get drugs for her own habit.
"She wasn't profiting from the business," he said.
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First Assistant County Attorney Connie Crowell argued that Hampton was a key figure in the meth ring, that she was involved in cooking meth, the distribution of the drug to friends and the gathering of the ingredients needed to cook the drug, even in her own home while her small children were present.
"Her involvement was quite deep in the meth manufacturing process," Crowell said. "She put little people in jeopardy."
Before sentencing, Spilseth told Hampton that he was impressed with her recent record of negative drug tests and her receptive attitude to making change in her life.
"Ms. Hampton, I think you can make it," he said. "You can make it happen."
Hampton told the court that she and her fiancé have moved away from the influence of drug-using friends and that neither are using drugs.
Dufner is facing charges of first-degree conspiracy to manufacture meth and possession of methamphetamine precursors with intent to manufacture meth, along with a gross misdemeanor charge of child endangerment. He is also facing an additional felony charge for third-degree controlled substance crime for possession of meth.
Dufner's next court appearance is Aug. 27.
Martinson has been deemed mentally incompetent to proceed on the charges.
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The evaluation means charges of first-degree conspiracy to manufacture meth and possession of methamphetamine precursors with intent to manufacture meth, along with a gross misdemeanor charge of child endangerment, will be stayed for three years.
