Island Lake man gets probation, treatment on meth lab charges

An Island Lake man accused of running a methamphetamine lab out of a friend's McHenry County home was sentenced to two years probation and drug treatment Tuesday after pleading guilty to a pair of felony drug charges.

Nicholas C. Wetzel, 38, of the 27600 block of North Oak Street, also was ordered to pay a $500 fine and $100 restitution to the McHenry County Sheriff as part of a plea deal in which he admitted to unlawful possession of methamphetamine materials and possession of methamphetamine with the intent to deliver.

The sentence includes a 102-day sentence in the McHenry County jail, but that is time Wetzel already has served since his January arrest. Five additional felony charges filed against Wetzel were dismissed as part of the negotiated plea.

McHenry County State's Attorney Louis Bianchi said Wetzel's crimes were a result of his drug addiction, and that he had already received about 250 hours of substance abuse treatment.

"Jail time with probation and time spent in drug counseling is more appropriate in this case than (prison)," Bianchi said. "In cases like this, it's cheaper to provide treatment than it is to incarcerate."

The plea deal was not well received in the McHenry County Sheriff's Department, which had to evacuate neighbors and close down the street in front of the home while hazardous materials crews removed the methamphetamine making materials.

"We don't disagree with the state's attorney, but we would have liked to see a harsher penalty against a person who was manufacturing rather than just possessing," Lt. Andrew Zinke said.

Sheriff's police arrested Wetzel Jan. 21 after a five-week investigation in which, investigators said, he sold methamphetamine to an undercover officer.

The deal led police to a home in Wonder Lake where they executed a search warrant and discovered anhydrous ammonia, other chemicals used in the production of methamphetamines and materials indicating the highly addictive stimulant was being produced on site.

Police said there also was evidence that a small child not related to Wetzel was in the home at least some of the time the drug was manufactured.