Three people have pleaded guilty to selling meth to a law enforcement informant less than 300 feet from a Menahga school.
Jesse Lee Kirschman, 25, of Staples; Bradley Dean Kangas, 42, of Menahga; and Michelle Jeannette Zak, 36, of Menahga; pleaded guilty to felony second-degree controlled substance crime sale. The crime has a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.
Law enforcement had been working with informants who made controlled buys from the suspected drug dealers. Kirschman, Kangas and Zak admitted to selling meth to an informant within 300 feet of Menahga Public School. Zak sold about 4.2 grams to the informant for $640; Kirschman sold about 6.43 grams of meth to the informant for $900; Kangas sold about 2.25 grams of meth to the informant for $510, according to court reports. Each person sold meth to the informant more than once, but the defendants were not believed to be working together.
Kirschman, Kangas and Zak at a plea hearing Friday all admitted they had a problem with meth.
Kirschman and Zak have received assessments to determine criteria for appropriate chemical dependency treatment. An assessment was ordered for Kangas as well.
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A hearing is set for May 16 for Kangas, Kirschman and Zak at which Judge Sally Robertson will sentence the defendants.
All three have been held in Wadena County Jail, and their defense attorney Ryan Ries said they are bored. Robertson said the court doesnt object to the defendants working with Sentenced to Serve or trustee work within the jail but they must remain in the jail.
Robertson asked the prosecution and defense if there was information about where the meth came from that was sold in Menahga. She said it concerned her and should be considered at some point.
