MASON CITY – A Nora Springs man has received a deferred judgment and will serve no time in jail following the discovery of a meth lab in his vehicle during a traffic stop near the intersection of Hwy 18 and Hwy 65 on Dec 19th, 2011.
As part of a plea bargain agreement, 19-year-old Matthew Leon Regan entered a written plea of guilt on December 10th, 2012 to one class C felony count of Conspiracy to Manufacture Methamphetamine. In exchange for the guilty plea the Cerro Gordo County District Attorney’s Office agreed not to pursue count two in his case listed as a class D felony count of Possession of a Controlled Substance Precursor.
At Regan’s sentencing hearing on Monday, February 18th, presiding District Court Judge Christopher C. Foy handed down a deferred judgment in the case. As part of the deferred judgment the plea of guilt is held back while Regan serves five years of probation with the Iowa Department of Corrections. If he successfully completes the terms of his probation the charge and plea of guilt will be stricken from his criminal record. Should he violate his probation the court can revoke his deferred judgment and sentence him to serve up to ten years in prison.
In addition to the probation Judge Foy ordered Regan to perform 150 hours of community service. Foy did not impose and court fines against Regan in the case.
A passenger in Regan’s vehicle who fled on foot during the initial traffic stop has never been apprehended.
Regan is also currently awaiting a trial in April for an incident that occurred in Clear Lake on August 27th, 2012. In that case he is accused of causing injury to a Clear Lake police officer after struggling with the officer during a traffic stop. Clear Lake police also recovered drug paraphernalia in that traffic stop and have charged Regan with possessing it.
NO JAIL TIME
