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Four arrested in suspected meth manufacturing case

Posted Online: 11/13/02

By Evelyn Puffer

Four people were arrested Nov. 7 in connection with suspected methamphetamine manufacturing including one man out on bail on a similar charge lodged in August.

Isanti County Sheriff's deputies Lisa Lovering and Rob Bowker were attempting to execute a warrant at the Richard Lowell Bourke residence at 3334 357th Ave. N.W. in rural Cambridge at 8:20 p.m. Nov. 7 when Deputy Bowker observed what he believed to be an active methamphetamine manufacturing operation in a pole shed on the property. Bourke was captured after running from his residence and into the woods.

A search warrant executed at the residence later that night revealed numerous items associated with methamphetamine manufacturing in both the pole shed and the residence's lower living quarters.

Arrested at the scene were Richard Lowell Bourke, 48; Robin Jean Vaughn, 20, of Foreston, MN; Shane John Rockneberg, 26, of Dalbo; Timothy Scott Johnson, 28, of rural Grasston and an adult male who was later released without charges.

All four appeared before Judge P. Hunter Anderson Friday, Nov. 7 with the following results: Richard Lowell Bourke was charged with a felony controlled substance crime in the first degree: manufacturing and conspiracy to manufacture a controlled substance crime in the first degree. Bail was set at $75,000 without conditions and $35,000 with the conditions that he submit to random urinalysis, remain law abiding and not use or possess controlled substances.

Robin Jean Vaughn was charged with aiding and abetting a first degree controlled substance crime: manufacturing and conspiracy to manufacture a controlled substance crime in the first degree. Bail was set at $75,000 without conditions and $20,000 with conditions.

Timothy Scott Johnson, was charged with aiding and abetting a felony controlled substance crime in the first degree: manufacture and conspiracy to manufacture a controlled substance in the first degree. Bail was set at $50,000 without conditions and $20,000 with conditions. In asking for the slightly lower bail, Isanti County Attorney Jeff Edblad noted that Johnson had no prior criminal record.

Shane John Rockneberg was charged with aiding and abetting a felony controlled sustance crime in the first degree: manufacturing and conspiracy to manufacture controlled substance crime in the first degree.

He had been charged in August 2002 with aiding and abetting an attempted felony controlled substance crime in the first degree: manufacturing (methamphetamines) and felony controlled susbtance crime in the fifth degree: possession. Judge Anderson set bail in that case at $70,000 without conditions or $25,000 with the conditions that he submit to random UAs and not possess or use mood altering substances. Rockneberg's case is on the jury trial calendar for Dec. 2.

Prior to setting bail in this new case Judge Anderson warned Rockneberg that he had every intention of taking the $10,000 the defendant paid to get out of jail last time if he reoffends while out on the new bail.

Said Judge Anderson, "If you're out there and you're thinking about using (drugs), think real hard about whether it's worth $10,000." He then set terms of release for Rockneberg at $150,000 without conditions and $80,000 with conditions.

All four defendants were approved for representation by the public defenders' office.