Jury convicts Bainbridge in meth case

Published 2:11 pm Wednesday, October 12, 2005

By Staff
CASSOPOLIS - On Tuesday, Oct. 11, a jury of five women and seven men found Russell Bainbridge guilty of conspiracy to possess methamphetamine and possession of marijuana after 30 minutes of deliberations before Cass County Circuit Judge Michael E. Dodge.
Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz noted that &#8221the defendant was deeply involved in a dangerous meth subculture. He was encouraging a pregnant woman to put poison into her body. What a tragedy.“;
On April 19, 2005, Russell Bainbridge and Misty Grinnell were arrested in a van on M-40 in the Crane Pond State Game Area in Newberg Township.
Bainbridge and Grinnell were found in a van containing methamphetamine, opiates, marijuana, needles, spoons, foils, filters and lighters throughout the vehicle.
Testimony indicated that Bainbridge had asked Grinnell to go with him to this area to get high on meth and marijuana.
Grinnell was pregnant at the time.
Their intended drug activity was interrupted by the vigilance of Cass County sheriff's deputies who saw the suspicious activity and quickly moved in.
Deputies, assisted by the Michigan State Police, located the drugs in the van and arrested Bainbridge and Grinnell despite their efforts to hide the contraband as officers approached.
Assistant Prosecutor Judith A. Baxter prosecuted the case.
Grinnell pleaded guilty on the morning of trial to conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with Bainbridge, possession of methamphetamine and possession of marijuana while being a repeat drug felony offender.
Bainbridge's bond was revoked upon his convictions and he was remanded to the Cass County Jail to await sentencing by Judge Dodge.