PREBLE COUNTY — A man Preble County Prosecuting Attorney Marty Votel said had been one of Preble County’s “most wanted,” was convicted on charges relating to the manufacturing of methamphetamine on Monday, Jan. 30.
According to Votel, Ronald Dean Risner, 52, was convicted following a one-day bench trial in Preble County Common Pleas Court.
Risner was found guilty of illegal manufacture of drugs, a felony of the second degree; illegal assembly of chemicals for the manufacture of drugs, a felony of the third degree; aggravated possession of drugs, a felony of the second degree; having weapons while under disability, a felony of the third degree, and drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
Det. Dean Miller of the Preble County Sheriff’s Office arrested Risner on Dec. 17, 2012, following the execution of a search warrant at his residence on Oxford Germantown Road in Camden. The search warrant stemmed from an individual seeing items used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine while picking up a car at that location, Votel said in a press release.
“Inside the small, one-bedroom residence and in the garage, numerous chemicals used in the manufacture of methamphetamine were seized by law enforcement, along with an active methamphetamine ‘cook’ in process, as well as finished product methamphetamine, multiple firearms, and over $2,000 in cash,” Votel said.
In Risner’s bedroom, according to court records, police discovered and seized over two grams of the methamphetamine, as well as chemicals used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. The cash was found in Risner’s pocket upon his arrest.
The active methamphetamine “cook” was found in the kitchen, and pseudoephedrine tablets were found in the kitchen and on a desk next to more methamphetamine and digital scales.
Risner fled Preble County in January 2014, after his indictment, but before trial.
Votel authorized a reward for any information leading to Risner’s arrest, funding the reward with drug forfeiture proceeds. The reward inspired cooperation with law enforcement and led to Risner’s arrest by the Preble County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshall’s Office.
“Methamphetamine production and abuse continue to plague our community, together with the rampant spread of opiate addiction,” Votel said. “This defendant had previously been convicted of methamphetamine-related offenses, and was long known among law enforcement sources to be very active in the manufacture and distribution of methamphetamine in Preble County.
“Since his flight from justice in 2014, Dean Risner had been on Preble County’s proverbial ‘most wanted list,” Votel said. “His apprehension, conviction, and pending severe prison sentences are well-deserved and long overdue. This is a very positive development in our community’s continuing battle against drug production, trafficking, and abuse.”
Risner is scheduled to be sentenced on March 22, at 1 p.m. and is facing a mandatory minimum of five years in prison for the illegal manufacturing charge and three years for the illegal assembly charge. Risner also faces a mandatory minimum of two years for the aggravated possession charge and three years for the weapons charge. He will also be subject to a mandatory period of post release control of three years upon his release from prison.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Gractia S. Manning represented the State of Ohio at the trial, with attorney Wayne Staton representing, and Judge David N. Abruzzo presiding.
