Jefferson County man sentenced for intent to distribute meth

FAIRFIELD — A Jefferson County man was sentenced to prison for intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Russell Allen Shirley, 39, who goes by the name “NRG” (Energy), was sentenced by the District Court for Jefferson County on May 2 for possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. Shirley was sentenced to an indeterminate term of incarceration not to exceed 10 years.

The charges arose from an incident that occurred on Feb. 16 of this year when Fairfield police officers went to the residence of Shirley, who had an active warrant for his arrest on unrelated charges. According to a news release from the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office, officers knocked on Shirley’s door and announced themselves, got no response, then stepped back to observe the residence from the alley.

A short time thereafter, two individuals exited the residence. Officers asked them if anyone remained inside the residence, and they said Shirley was inside. Upon learning information Shirley was indeed inside, the officers entered the home to execute an arrest warrant.

Shirley’s mother, who he lives with, told officers that Shirley was not in the home, but he was located hiding inside a bathtub. While executing the arrest warrant for Shirley, suspected controlled substances were seen in plain view in the home, and a search warrant for the home was obtained. Upon execution of the search warrant, officers seized approximately 10 grams of controlled substance methamphetamine, along with cash, packaging materials, a digital scale, and glass smoking devices. Inside the container holding the methamphetamine they located a debit card belonging to Shirley.

Shirley has been held in custody since his arrest on Feb. 16. The court denied his request to be released on a reduced bond, citing Shirley’s criminal record and demonstrated history of failing to appear for court, as well as outstanding warrants in Texas. On Monday, May 2, Shirley entered a guilty plea to a C felony charge of possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, less than 5 grams.

Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com