Caledonia Argus

Bail lowered for five arrested in meth lab bust

Posted: 11/4/03

By Shannon McKinney
Argus News Reporter

As of Monday afternoon, November 3, one of the five defendants accused in the manufacture of methamphetamine has been released from the Houston County jail.

Levi John Jones, 19, of Harperís Ferry, IA, posted a corporate surety bond after conditional bail was lowered from $75,000 to $15,000.

Bail for all five defendants was lowered after it was noted by defense counsel that the omnibus hearings will extend past the defendantís right for a timely omnibus hearing.

All five defendants appeared in court Monday for a joint omnibus hearing. However, since matters were not settled, the omnibus hearing will continue at 8:30 am on Tuesday, December 2.

The unconditional bail of Theodore J. Hawver, 20, of Spring Grove and Ronnie Lee Shefelbine, 21, of Caledonia was lowered from $150,000 to $50,000. Hawverís conditional bail was lowered from $75,000 to $15,000 while Shefelbineís conditional bail was lowered to $10,000.

District Judge James Fabian also accepted a request from Shefelbine for a furlough from jail to attend in-patient counseling which could last up to 28 days.

Unconditional bail for Thomas Alvin Monson, 22, of Spring Grove, was changed from $250,000 to $100,000, and conditional was lowered from $125,000 to $40,000.

Unconditional bail for Todd Weston, 39, of Eitzen, has remained at $250,000 while conditional bail was lowered from $125,000 to $75,000.

All five have been charged with three felony counts including first degree manufacturing of a controlled substance and liability of crimes of another, possession of methamphetamine and tampering with anhydrous ammonia. The five were arrested on Friday, September 19, 2003.

Weston has been additionally charged with possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree.

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