A Jacksonville man arrested after a high-speed chase in Morgan County earlier this year has been sentenced.
Twenty-seven-year-old Dustin Mehrhoff of the 100 block of Howe pleaded guilty last Tuesday in Morgan County Court to unlawful participation in methamphetamine manufacturing. A meth-manufacturing materials possession charge was dropped in the deal.
Mehrhoff was placed on two years of drug court probation concurrent with a 2014 felony, and was ordered to pay $2,960 in fines. A 180-day jail sentence was stayed for review.
Mehrhoff and another individual, 28-year-old Justin Stone of rural Jacksonville, were arrested in late March. The pair were in a car county deputies had been searching for, and when approached by an off-duty deputy at the intersection of Strawn Crossing and Lair Road, the vehicle reportedly sped off.
Deputies said during the chase, the individuals in the car were “throwing materials” out of the vehicle. The chase ended when the vehicle being chased crashed into a ditch.
Mehrhoff was originally arrested for use of property to violate the Meth Control Act and illegal disposal of meth-manufacturing waste, but was not formally charged on those offenses.
Justin Stone is due in court next month.