Robert A. Nelson, Jr.

KOSCIUSKO — An Elkhart man was sentenced to five years in the Indiana Department of Corrections in Kosciusko Circuit Court today, Feb. 4, for attempting to manufacture methamphetamine in a vehicle.

Robert Alan Nelson, Jr., 54, 801 Benham Ave., Elkhart, was charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, a level 3 felony.

On Aug. 1, 2017, an officer with the Warsaw Police Department met with an individual who said they arranged to purchase one gram of methamphetamine from a male subject. The individual was told by the male subject that he wanted a box of pseudoephedrine to trade for the methamphetamine.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, the male subject told the individual to meet him at Walmart. Officers transported the individual to Walmart with an undercover police vehicle. The individual then entered a vehicle operated by Nelson, with the male subject in a rear passenger seat. Officers approached the vehicle and smelled the odor of ammonia and lithium metal emitting from the vehicle.

Officers spoke with Nelson, who admitted the male subject had purchased methamphetamine in Elkhart on July 31, 2017. Nelson said the one-pot methamphetamine lab in his vehicle would have made a total of two grams of methamphetamine.

While searching the vehicle, officers discovered items associated with a one-pot methamphetamine lab.

Nelson was convicted of dealing methamphetamine on Aug. 11, 2015, in Elkhart Circuit Court.

“Robert has a long history of substance issues,” said defense attorney Tony Garza. “He wants rehabilitative help while he’s incarcerated and he wants to make the best of his sentence.”

Nelson then addressed Judge Michael Reed about the issues he sees within society.

“Sending people who are trying to rehabilitate back into a community with drugs doesn’t help,” said Nelson. “It doesn’t help at all. There are issues within society regarding drug usage. But through it all, I’m grateful that I still have my family, and I’m very proud of my sobriety.”

Reed sentenced Nelson to five years in the Indiana Department of Corrections for manufacturing methamphetamine.