Vandalia Man Found Guilty of Drug Charges

A Fayette County jury Friday found a Vandalia man guilty on a series of drug-related charges.

40-year-old Michael T. Fickes was found guilty of aggravated participation in methamphetamine manufacturing, participation in methamphetamine manufacturing 400 to 900 grams, unlawful possesion of methamphetamine manufacturing materials, and unlawful disposal of methamphetamine manfacturing waste.  The first two counts are Class X felonies, meaning mandatory prison time.

Fickes will be sentenced on March 18.  He'll be looking at 15 to 60 years in prison on one of the Class X counts, 12 to 50 years on the other Class X felony, and three to seven years in prison on the Class 2 charges.  He is also eligible for extended term sentencing, which means he could face up to 120 years in prison on the aggravated participation in methamphetamine manufacturing count.

In January 2013, while police were attempting to locate a subject wanted on warrants, a chemical odor known to the officers to be consistent with the smell of a meth lab, was detected in the 100 block of 7th Street in Vandalia, which was within 1,000 feet of a place of worship.  Police further investigated and an individual was located in a nearby home.  Several items used in the manufacture of methamphetamine were discovered in and around the home.  It was also determined that two individuals had fled the scene, and that Fickes was one of those individuals.

Fayette County State's Attorney Joshua Morrison and Assistant State's Attorney Amanda Ade-Harlow prosecuted the case, and said they are very pleased with the outcome of the three-day trial.