Bond was set for three individuals making video court appearances in Knox County Circuit Court on Friday.
According to court records, Associate Judge Anthony Vaupel set bond at $250,000 for 33-year-old James L. Thien of Burlington, Iowa related to five felony charges. Vaupel also set bond at $5,000 for 34-year-old Tyler A. Ripperger – also of Burlington – and 20-year-old Chelsea N. Girswold of Biggsville for drug related felony charges.
Officers arrested the three following a traffic stop in the 200 block of N. Broad Street. A K-9 unit was brought in to perform a free-air sniff test, which alerted to drugs being in the car.
According to police reports, officers were informed that methamphetamine was in the car, and conducted a search – turning up over 50 grams of the drug in several different baggies, a scale and several empty seal-able bags, as well as prescription medication. A taser was also found in the vehicle.
The five charges that Thien faces include Class X Felonies of Armed Violence, and Meth Possession with Intent to Deliver Under 100 grams. Both counts carry a statutory prison sentencing range of 6-30 years in prison. He also faces a Class 1 Felony of Meth Possession under 100 Grams, Class 3 Possession of a Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and a Class 4 Felony of Obstruction of Justice – allegedly for telling police he was his brother.
Ripperger faces two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance under 15 Grams – a Class 4 Felony.
Griswold faces a Class 3 Felony of Meth Possession under 5 grams.
Preliminary hearings are scheduled for March 12th in all three’s cases.
