Brighton man faces pseudoephedrine charges

Stanley Gene Heckethorn, 58, of Brighton was arrested Wednesday evening in rural Washington County and charged with possession of pseudoephedrine with intent to manufacture, a class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

Heckethorn also was charged with violating pseudoephedrine purchase restrictions, a serious misdemeanor that could bring up to one year in prison. He is being held in the Washington County jail under $6,000 bond.

According to court documents, Heckethorn allegedly purchased 2,400 mg of pseudoephedrine ? a chemical found in certain medicine and also used to make crystal methamphetamine ? from HyVee Pharmacy in Fairfield Aug. 20, 2009, and 2,400 mg of pseudoephedrine at HyVee Pharmacy in Washington Aug. 28, 2009. The records also say Heckethorn allegedly purchased 2,880 mg of pseudoephedrine at the HyVee Pharmacy in Washington Sept. 18, 2009.

?In total the defendant purchased 7,680 mg of pseudoephedrine in this 30 day period,? the court document read. ?The defendant also purchased 58 additional times before and after this period. During that time the defendant purchased 156,000mg of pseudoephedrine from five different pharmacies.?

The court report says a search warrant was performed Dec. 20 on Heckethorn?s residence and items consistent with methamphetamine use and manufacture were located. The items included methamphetamine, meth paraphernalia, bags, digital scale, camp fuel, liquid fire and a blender containing crushed pseudoephedrine residue.

The police log stated Sally Heckethorn, 56, of Brighton, listed as having the same address as Heckethorn, also was arrested. She has been charged with possession of pseudoephedrine with intent to manufacture and four counts of pseudoephedrine purchase restrictions.