Use An Air Compressor, Go To Jail

Once again, another true WTW story of local origin. Tossing ammonia tank at police nets woman 6 years:

ALBION – A Kimmell woman was sentenced to six years in prison Thursday, two months after prosecutors say she threw a tank of anhydrous ammonia at police.

Maylene L. McClelland, 32, was charged May 2 with possession of precursors with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine, a Class C felony punishable by two to eight years in prison, as well as possession of anhydrous ammonia with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine and criminal recklessness, both Class D felonies punishable by six months to three years in prison. She also faced a misdemeanor charge of improper storage of anhydrous ammonia.

In a plea agreement reached with Noble County Prosecutor Steven Clouse, McClelland pleaded guilty June 23 to possession of precursors and improper storage in exchange for a six-year sentence.

But Thursday, her public defender, James Abbs, argued that McClelland should be able to serve part of her time on probation because she is pregnant.

Abbs argued that McClelland, whom Abbs said has a serious substance abuse problem [ya think? -ed], could live with her aunt, who would help take care of the baby. McClelland, he said, could report to prison when the baby is a year old.

Odds on that actually working out: somewhere between "Woody Hayes coming back from the dead to coach Michigan" and "Bill Clinton making an honest living."

At least we have a judge who knows the score:

[Circuit Judge David] Laur sentenced McClelland – who has seven other children – to prison for all of her six-year sentence.

“I would have to be from a different world to put you on probation,” he said.

. . .

“Given your behavior to date, I consider (your children) better off with you in the Department of Correction,” Laur said. “It’s up to you to change.”

Well, at least she'll be able to get meth eaiser there.

According to a probable cause affidavit, McClelland was the passenger in a 1989 Dodge truck that led police on a pursuit from Albion east past Indiana 3. She and the driver, Joshua A. Kelley, 23, of the 3100 block of West Tibbot Street in Wawaka, were on their way to DeKalb County to manufacture methamphetamine, the affidavit said.

. . .

Albion officers chased the truck on Indiana 8, getting help from the Avilla Town Marshal’s Office, Kendallville Police Department and Noble County Sheriff’s Department. On Indiana 8, Kendallville officers laid down stop sticks, which blew the truck’s tires, police said.

But the truck continued across Indiana 3, and in the 9600 block of County Road 300 North, McClelland threw an air compressor tank full of anhydrous ammonia at Avilla Town Marshal Glen Wills, police said.

The chemical created a cloud in the air, the affidavit said, and four officers had trouble breathing.

The episode shows that McClelland had no regard for her health or the health of her unborn child, [Noble County Prosecutor Steven] Clouse argued. “Her intent was to go make some methamphetamine.”

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