Pubdate: Fri, 23 Sep 2005
Source: Courier, The (Lincoln, IL)
Copyright: 2005 The Lincoln Courier
Contact:  http://www.lincolncourier.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3923
Author: James Washburn, The Courier
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

EX-COP'S DAUGHTER ADMITS GUILT

Strohl Gets Probation For Mom's Botched Meth Scheme

The daughter of a former Lincoln police officer pleaded guilty today 
to charges she conspired with her mother, former Lincoln police Cpl. 
Diana Short, to manufacture methamphetamine to raise bond money for 
Short's release.

Logan County Circuit Judge David Coogan sentenced Brianna D. Strohl, 
24, of the 100 block of Grand Avenue to 48 months probation and 180 
days in jail after she admitted to the botched drug scheme.

Strohl pleaded guilty to unlawful criminal drug conspiracy, a Class 
II felony, which allows for up to seven years in prison.

In exchange for Strohl's plea, Logan County State's Attorney Tim 
Huyett agreed to dismiss a Class X conspiracy charge and unlawful 
possession of methamphetamine manufacturing chemicals, a Class I 
felony. Both are more severe than the one to which she admitted.

Huyett has said authorities learned from inmates at the Logan County 
Safety Complex - where Short was being jailed on unrelated drug 
charges - that Short was attempting to solicit individuals to 
manufacture meth to raise money for her bond.

Police corroborated the allegations by monitoring Short's telephone 
conversations from the jail. A July 22 telephone conversation between 
Short and Strohl revealed Strohl planned to gather as many as 2,000 
tablets of a cold remedy containing pseudoephedrine, a common meth 
ingredient, Huyett said.

During a July 27 phone call, Strohl told Short "mission 
accomplished," saying the pills were hidden outside a residence in 
the 200 block of Williamette Avenue where Illinois State troopers 
later recovered more than 1,000 of the over-the-counter tablets.

In addition to probation and the jail term, Strohl also must pay 
court costs, including a $2,000 mandatory assessment stemming from 
the Controlled Substances Act.

She was credited for being jailed the past 53 days.

Short pleaded guilty Sept. 8 to several felony drug charges and will 
be sentenced to a minimum of nine and up to 37 years in prison at a 
sentencing hearing Oct. 6.
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