By AARON MUELLER
Niles Daily Star

CASSOPOLIS – Carroll Mead claims he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

But Cass County Circuit Court Judge Michael Dodge didn’t buy it during his sentencing Friday.

Mead, who in March pleaded guilty to charges of operating a methamphetamine lab involving hazardous waste, operating a meth lab and possession of meth, was sentenced to three to 20 years in prison. Dodge had no objection to boot camp.

In February, Mead, a Niles resident, and two others were at an Edwardsburg residence where meth was being cooked. The Cass County Drug Enforcement team arrived at the scene and was “overwhelmed by the smell” of meth, according to Dodge. Officers found a one-pot meth cook in the attic.

Dodge went on to say that according to police reports, Mead appeared to be under the influence of meth and admitted to having snorted it off a table that day during questioning.

At his sentencing, Mead denied saying that and using the drug that day.

“You all planned on using it,” Dodge said. “Why else would you be waiting there?”
Mitchell Moldovan, Mead’s attorney, also said Mead was simply “in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“He has two children,” Moldovan also said. “He’s willing to put this behind him and move on.”

Mead denied any wrongdoing during his statements.

“I wish I wouldn’t have been around those people,” he said. “I can’t believe I am leaving my kids over this. It just breaks my heart.”

Mead, who has a previous cocaine-related conviction on his record, was called “a frequent flyer in this type of activity” by Prosecutor Victor Fitz.