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Task force arrests two on drug-related charges, one for over-purchase of pseudoephedrine
For the Daily Gate City
WEST POINT - The Lee County Narcotics Task Force reported the arrests Wednesday of three Lee County residents involved in two separate incidents.
Rebecca J. Walljasper, 47, and her son, Zach J. Walljasper, 17, both of West Point, were arrested after task force investigators executed a search warrant at their residence.
Rebecca Walljasper is charged with conspiracy to manufacture more than five grams of methamphetamine with intent to deliver to a minor, as Class B felony, and maintaining a drug house, an aggravated misdemeanor. If convicted, Walljasper faces up to 101 years in prison.
Lee County Narcotics Commander Dave Hinton said the charge of intent to deliver to a minor can enhance the length of a prison sentence. A prison sentence for a Class B felony sentence can be up to 25 years and an aggravated misdemeanor sentence can be up to two years.
Zach Walljasper is charged with conspiracy to manufacture more than five grams of methamphetamine, a Class B felony. If convicted, he can face up to 25 years in a state correctional facility.
The arrest stems from an investigation by the task force into allegations the Walljaspers were involved in the manufacture of methamphetamine in the Denmark area.
Wednesday investigators executed a search warrant at the Walljaspers' residence at 1155 255th Avenue and found items that indicated the manufacture and/or use of methamphetamine in the residence and on the property.
Investigators contacted the Department of Human Services after two juveniles were found living at the residence.
Rebecca Walljasper was held at the Lee County Jail pending an initial court appearance.
Zach Walljasper was taken to the Lee County Juvenile Detention Center in Montrose.
In a separate action, Rickie R. Straughsbaugh, 30, of 217 N. 10th St., Keokuk, was arrested on a warrant for purchase of more than 7,500 milligrams of pseudoephedrine in a 30-day period, a serious misdemeanor. Conviction could result in a one-year sentence in a state correctional facility.
The arrest stems from an investigation by the task force into pseudoephedrine in Lee County. A check of local pharmacy logs showed Straughsbaugh to be in violation of the law, according to the task force.
She was taken to the Lee County Jail pending a court appearance.
Other assisting agencies included the Lee County Sheriff's Office, Iowa State Penitentiary K-9 Unit, Keokuk Police Department, and Lee County Attorney's Office.
The Walljaspers and Straughsbaugh are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The Lee County Narcotics Task Force is funded in part by the U.S. Department of Justice and the funds administered by the Iowa Governor's Office of Drug Control Policy.
WEST POINT - The Lee County Narcotics Task Force reported the arrests Wednesday of three Lee County residents involved in two separate incidents.
Rebecca J. Walljasper, 47, and her son, Zach J. Walljasper, 17, both of West Point, were arrested after task force investigators executed a search warrant at their residence.
Rebecca Walljasper is charged with conspiracy to manufacture more than five grams of methamphetamine with intent to deliver to a minor, as Class B felony, and maintaining a drug house, an aggravated misdemeanor. If convicted, Walljasper faces up to 101 years in prison.
Lee County Narcotics Commander Dave Hinton said the charge of intent to deliver to a minor can enhance the length of a prison sentence. A prison sentence for a Class B felony sentence can be up to 25 years and an aggravated misdemeanor sentence can be up to two years.
Zach Walljasper is charged with conspiracy to manufacture more than five grams of methamphetamine, a Class B felony. If convicted, he can face up to 25 years in a state correctional facility.
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Wednesday investigators executed a search warrant at the Walljaspers' residence at 1155 255th Avenue and found items that indicated the manufacture and/or use of methamphetamine in the residence and on the property.
Investigators contacted the Department of Human Services after two juveniles were found living at the residence.
Rebecca Walljasper was held at the Lee County Jail pending an initial court appearance.
Zach Walljasper was taken to the Lee County Juvenile Detention Center in Montrose.
In a separate action, Rickie R. Straughsbaugh, 30, of 217 N. 10th St., Keokuk, was arrested on a warrant for purchase of more than 7,500 milligrams of pseudoephedrine in a 30-day period, a serious misdemeanor. Conviction could result in a one-year sentence in a state correctional facility.
The arrest stems from an investigation by the task force into pseudoephedrine in Lee County. A check of local pharmacy logs showed Straughsbaugh to be in violation of the law, according to the task force.
She was taken to the Lee County Jail pending a court appearance.
Other assisting agencies included the Lee County Sheriff's Office, Iowa State Penitentiary K-9 Unit, Keokuk Police Department, and Lee County Attorney's Office.
The Walljaspers and Straughsbaugh are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The Lee County Narcotics Task Force is funded in part by the U.S. Department of Justice and the funds administered by the Iowa Governor's Office of Drug Control Policy.
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Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of dailygate.com.
Illinois Man wrote on Feb 23, 2008 12:06 AM:
" knew this woman 30 years ago and I actually dated her for a short time one summer. I was in my early twenties at the time and she really seemed like a very nice gal. She came from a nice family, her parents were farmers, very nice people. After reading about her in the newspaper I cannot believe she got herself mixed up in such a mess. She may be going to Prison for a while unless they can give her some alternative way to get her life together. I do hope she can get into some kind of recovery program or plead with the court to get help and get her life on the right track. If anyone in her family reads this they may remember me, I am just someone who cares. "
Rich Barclift wrote on Feb 21, 2008 5:48 AM:
" regarding the comment stating what you do in your house is your buisness. If you are manufacturing meth as well as other illegal activity in your home, you have given up your rights! You have put your neighbors rights at risk by possible exposure to highly toxic fumes and or the risk of explosion.
Come on people! Don't be mad at the Law makers/Police, your missing the point! Your frustration should be with the lawbreakers! I commend the Drug Task Force! Most of you have no idea the monumental effort that is put forth to eradicate the vermen that is producing, distributing, using meth. You should be taking every oppurtunity to thank them!
Come on Southeastern Iowa! time to lose your reputation as being the "Meth capital of Iowa" Yes, you have suffered Dramatic loss in employment oppurtunities. But I do not think most of you realize the Monumental effort by citizens such as your Mayor has put forth to bring positive change/jobs to the community.
Thank You Drug Task Force and Thank You Dave Gudgel for working tiresley to bring positive change to the community.
"
Come on people! Don't be mad at the Law makers/Police, your missing the point! Your frustration should be with the lawbreakers! I commend the Drug Task Force! Most of you have no idea the monumental effort that is put forth to eradicate the vermen that is producing, distributing, using meth. You should be taking every oppurtunity to thank them!
Come on Southeastern Iowa! time to lose your reputation as being the "Meth capital of Iowa" Yes, you have suffered Dramatic loss in employment oppurtunities. But I do not think most of you realize the Monumental effort by citizens such as your Mayor has put forth to bring positive change/jobs to the community.
Thank You Drug Task Force and Thank You Dave Gudgel for working tiresley to bring positive change to the community.
"
Reader wrote on Feb 8, 2008 3:07 PM:
"
Although this is bad .It is a crime by government to put some one in prison for 101 years when there is no violent act . People can murder some one and not get 101 years how absurd is that . You can commit armed robbery and not get 101 years . You can embezzle a million dollars from some one and get fined less than you stole and probation or a couple years .This is a crime against the people by government . Here again the infamous meth boogieman is going to get us all . The charge intent to deliver to a minor . Is fabricated because their was a minor in the residence That doesn't mean the person intended to sell it to a minor .Another method of the state exagerating the actual offense .How can anyone know what a person intends to do .With out proving it . The state doesn't have to proven of this People should be outraged by this Buying to much of something that's legal to purchase in a store We need legislators and judges who have ability to implement some degree of common sense and normalcy for a change . Whats next 50 years for smoking cigarettes
"
Although this is bad .It is a crime by government to put some one in prison for 101 years when there is no violent act . People can murder some one and not get 101 years how absurd is that . You can commit armed robbery and not get 101 years . You can embezzle a million dollars from some one and get fined less than you stole and probation or a couple years .This is a crime against the people by government . Here again the infamous meth boogieman is going to get us all . The charge intent to deliver to a minor . Is fabricated because their was a minor in the residence That doesn't mean the person intended to sell it to a minor .Another method of the state exagerating the actual offense .How can anyone know what a person intends to do .With out proving it . The state doesn't have to proven of this People should be outraged by this Buying to much of something that's legal to purchase in a store We need legislators and judges who have ability to implement some degree of common sense and normalcy for a change . Whats next 50 years for smoking cigarettes
"
Reader wrote on Feb 8, 2008 2:20 PM:
"
Although this is bad .It is a crime by government to put some one in prison for 101 years when there is no violent act . People can murder some one and not get 101 years how absurd is that . You can commit armed robbery and not get 101 years . You can embezzle a million dollars from some one and get fined less than you stole and probation or a couple years .This is a crime against the people by government . Here again the infamous meth boogieman is going to get us all . People should be outraged by this .For buying to much of something that's legal to purchase in a store We need legislators and judges who have ability to implement some degree of common sense and normalcy for a change . Whats next 50 years for smoking cigarettes
"
Although this is bad .It is a crime by government to put some one in prison for 101 years when there is no violent act . People can murder some one and not get 101 years how absurd is that . You can commit armed robbery and not get 101 years . You can embezzle a million dollars from some one and get fined less than you stole and probation or a couple years .This is a crime against the people by government . Here again the infamous meth boogieman is going to get us all . People should be outraged by this .For buying to much of something that's legal to purchase in a store We need legislators and judges who have ability to implement some degree of common sense and normalcy for a change . Whats next 50 years for smoking cigarettes
"
Wow.... wrote on Feb 7, 2008 5:12 PM:
" look at the severity of those prison terms for making meth. Imagine how much money its gonna cost to hold, try, convict and imprison these guys. The cost of keeping a prisoner in prison (where else?) is about $40,000 a year all told. Add on the court costs, attorney fees, appeals, jail time, medical care etc etc and you got yourself almost a million dollar in LOSS. There's no social profit anywhere in the correctional process. We're just throwing good moneu after bad, time to find new solutions.
On a related note, I went to Hy-Vee to purchase some Claritin D for my allergies. It would have been easier for me to buy cigs and alcohol (the two most deadly drugs in the USA--currently legal I might add) than the medicine. People I implore you, what are we doing? When you have to sign the "register" for allergy relief we've gone too far. I think its humiliating and just a bit of an invasion of privacy to take out my ID and sign on the dotted line so the police can scrutinize how much decongestant I buy. What happened to privacy" What happened to the presumption of innocence? What happened to the good old american ethic of "what I do in my house is none of your business"? "
On a related note, I went to Hy-Vee to purchase some Claritin D for my allergies. It would have been easier for me to buy cigs and alcohol (the two most deadly drugs in the USA--currently legal I might add) than the medicine. People I implore you, what are we doing? When you have to sign the "register" for allergy relief we've gone too far. I think its humiliating and just a bit of an invasion of privacy to take out my ID and sign on the dotted line so the police can scrutinize how much decongestant I buy. What happened to privacy" What happened to the presumption of innocence? What happened to the good old american ethic of "what I do in my house is none of your business"? "
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Sheila Heady Garrison wrote on Jun 18, 2008 10:11 PM:
As far as the law is concerned, they have to do what they have to do. The law was created to stop this kind of activity before it hurts others. What you don't understand about meth is that it makes you do things that you would never do if you weren't taking the drug. My family is from the law enforcement community, and believe me, we are better off without this kind of activity. If that means I have to sign on the dotted line before I receive my Claritin D (yes, I take it too), then so be it. I don't have anything to feel guilty about, so why would it bother me. They aren't looking at my name in particular, just those who show up time after time after time. That throws the red flag. I live in the state of Missouri, and we are #1 in the country for Meth manufacturing. This is not a proud statement that I am making!!!
If the family is reading this, please know that my heart is with you, and I would love to hear from any of you. "