Child endangerment charged

EDGEWOOD—Clay County authorities have brought an end to what appeared to be a rather large methamphetamine production ring operating out of the village of Edgewood.

Carrie A. Vaultonberg, 33 and Eric Vaultonberg, 38, both of 5566 Ridge Rd., Edgewood, are both facing felony drug charges.

Both Carrie and Eric Vaultonberg have been charged with Methamphetamine-Related Child Endangerment.

Information filed in the case alleges that on October 4, while at their home, they knowingly endangered the life and health of a child under the age of 18 by exposing the child to a methamphetamine manufacturing environment in that the child was in the residence and exposed to methamphetamine-manufacturing materials.

Carrie Vaultonberg also faces one count of Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine Precursors after authorities say at 5:17 p.m. at the Flora Wal-Mart pharmacy, she possessed less than 15 grams of pseudoephedrine with the intent it be used to manufacture meth.

In addition to a charge of Driving Under the Influence, Eric Vaultonberg also faces one count of Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine Precursors identified as lithium batteries, lye, drain cleaner, coffee filters and ammonium nitrate and one count of Unlawful Participation in Methamphetamine Manufacturing alleging that on Oct. 4, he participated in the production of less than 15 grams of meth.

On Nov. 3, Carrie Vaultonberg pled not guilty to her charges while on Nov. 5, Eric Vaultonberg pled not guilty to his charges.

A jury trial has been set for both Vaultonbergs for February 9, 2015.

While Carrie Vaultonberg doesn’t appear to have much of a criminal history, the same cannot be said for Eric.

He is already a convicted felon, receiving his first felony in Clay County Nov. 12, 2003 for Burglary, for which he was originally sentenced to two year probation, which he violated and was subsequently convicted of Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (prescription medication) earning him a seven year prison sentence.

In 2004 Eric Vaultonberg was convicted of Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine 15-100 grams for which he was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Cash bond in Carrie’s case has been set at $1,500.

Eric, on the other hand, will have to come up with $10,000 cash before he can think about being released from custody.

Trio charged with endangerment

Dawn M. Doty, 41, David Ray Yingst, 42 and Brian G. Mey, 39, all of 5406 Ridge Rd., Edgewood, have been charged with one count of Methamphetamine-Related Child Endangerment after authorities say on Oct. 21, at 11:55 a.m. at their home, they endangered the life and health of a child under the age of 18 years when they exposed the child to a methamphetamine manufacturing environment by having the child in the presence of meth manufacturing materials.

Doty was also charged with a single count of Obstructing Justice which alleges that, in order to prevent the prosecution of herself and David Yingst, she knowingly attempted to destroy or conceal evidence identified as a bottle of camp fuel she poured down the kitchen sink and an ice pack she threw into the bathroom trash can.

Yingst and Mey were further charged with Unlawful Participation in Methamphetamine Manufacturing alleging he participated in the manufacture of less than 15 grams of meth, and Yingst is also charged with Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine Manufacturing Materials identified as lithium battery strip ribbon, empty Coleman fuel container, paraphernalia, liquid fire drain cleaner, empty bottle, boxes and hoses all with intent to manufacture meth.

And Mey is charged with an additional count of Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine Precursor identified as less than 15 grams of pseudoephedrine.

Doty was released from custody Oct. 22, on a $50,000 recognizance bond.

Conditions of the bond include no alcohol or drug use and that she be subject to random drug testing.

Cash bond in the cases Yingst and Mey have been set at $10,000 each.

Violent felon charged

And finally, a violent convicted felon from Edgewood has been charged in the latest roundup of folks purchasing methamphetamine manufacturing materials from Flora pharmacies.

According to information filed in the case, Derrick Allen Britz, 30, of 1400 Illinois St., Edgewood, has been charged with Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine Precursors after authorities say at 12:37 p.m., while at the Wal-Mart pharmacy, located at 1540 North Worthey St., Flora, on November 4, 2013, he was found to be in possession of less than 15 grams of pseudoephedrine with the intent that it be used to manufacture meth.

At the time of his arrest, Britz was serving a three-year probation sentence after being convicted of one count of Aggravated Battery of a Peace Officer and Aggravated Battery of a Pregnant/Handicapped Person.

As part of that sentence he was also ordered to pay $1,832 in fines and fees, of which he still owes $1,682.

Cash bond in his most recent case has been set at $3,000.