Sentencing set for January
Jury finds Verbosky guilty of making meth
Wanda English Burnett - Editor

Deliberating a little over an hour, a Ripley County Jury found Matthew E. Verbosky, 27, of Vevay, guilty of two class B felonies, Manufacturing Methamphetamine and Conspiracy to Manufacture Methamphetamine.

The verdict came in last week, after the jury heard testimony from the prosecution saying Verbosky had brought a bottle full of a chemical mixture to Larry and Gerrilynn Parnell's home on Friendship Road and then with their assistance, finished "gassing" it to make the completed product, meth. This occurred on September 11, 2004, and both the Parnell's are already serving time in prison for their part in the drug manufacturing.

Witnesses presented to the jury by Deputy Prosecutor Ryan King included the Parnells, ISP Trooper David Noah, ISP Clandestine Lab Team Commander and Evidence Technician David Phelps and Forensic Scientist Brad Morrin from the ISP lab. Both technicians testified to the contents found at the Parnell's home on the night of the arrests.

ISP Trooper David Noah testified that he had originally gone to the residence of the Parnells to serve an arrest warrant for Gerrilynn. The officer said as Mr. Parnell opened the door to the residence, Verbosky ran out the back door. He hid in a nearby field until Noah told other officers at the scene to bring in the K-9 units to search the area. At that point, Verbosky gave himself up.

The trooper continued with testimony that when he went to secure the residence, he "was surprised by a white chemical cloud coming from the basement." Experts from the ISP Clandestine Lab were called in and evidence was collected that was "consistent with the manufacture of methamphetamine."

Verbosky, who was represented by Michelle Fentress of Votaw and Kisor Law Firm of Lawrenceburg, presented no witnesses and the defendant didn't take the stand in his defense either.

Prosecutor Ric Hertel commended the work of the Indiana State Police and Chief Prosecuting Deputy Ryan King. He noted that the prompt jury verdict shows that the case was thoroughly prepared and presented. He further thanked the jurors for serving the community.

Sentencing for Verbosky has been set for January 10, 2006, in Ripley County Circuit Court. Judge Carl Taul granted a motion that Verbosky be immediately incarcerated following the trial.