[AUG. 4, 2005] Logan County State's Attorney Tim
Huyett announced that his office has charged Diana L. Short, 46, a
former Lincoln police officer, and her daughter, Brianna D. Strohl,
24, with conspiring to manufacture methamphetamine.
The charges stem from an investigation into the pair's conduct since
Short was incarcerated on May 5, when Judge Charles Feeney raised
Short's bond after a Logan County grand jury indicted her in April
on Class X drug trafficking charges.
Short was originally charged in December of 2004, when she and
her husband, John, were found to be operating a marijuana grow room
in the basement of their Hamilton Street residence. Further
investigation led authorities to seek additional charges against
John and Diana Short of controlled substances trafficking and
unlawful manufacture of a controlled substance.
Once these charges were lodged Huyett filed a motion to increase
bail due to the more serious nature of the new charges. The
trafficking charge is a Class X felony carrying a range of sentences
from 12 to 60 years in the Department of Corrections. The
manufacturing charge carries six- to 30-year penalties. Probation is
not an option.
Feeney agreed and raised bail an additional $75,000 to $100,000.
The couple needed an additional $7,500 each, as they had already
posted $2,500 in lieu of being incarcerated on the original charges.
Huyett said that apparently the pair did not have sufficient
funds to meet the increased bond and remained in custody. Huyett
said his office learned from other inmates that Short was apparently
attempting to solicit various individuals to manufacture
methamphetamine for the purpose of selling it, in order to raise
money for her bond.
After corroborating this information, the state's attorney's
office began to monitor the tape-recorded phone calls Short was
placing. Huyett commented that there is no privacy interest invaded
in the calls, as each call that is placed is preceded by a recorded
warning stating that the calls are subject to being monitored.
The calls demonstrated that Short was soliciting, among others,
her own daughter, Brianna Strohl, to accumulate pseudoephedrine
pills for the purpose of manufacturing the meth. With the assistance
of a confidential informant, Short was led to believe that a cook
was in place and all that was needed was the pills. Short then
placed a call to Strohl and told her that she needed the "little
white things," meaning the pills. Short also instructed her how to
accumulate the pills, telling her to use her "buds" and to be
careful: "no more than two boxes per store." This call was placed on
July 22, according to Huyett. During a tape-recorded call on July
27, Strohl stated "mission accomplished" and told Short the location
of the pills. Members of the Illinois State Police then recovered
the pills.
The new charges against Short were brought in four counts,
ranging from Class X felonies to Class 2 felonies. Short's bond was
set at $250,000, with 10 percent to apply. Any sentence imposed
against Short would be mandatorily consecutive to any sentence
imposed in the original charges, if convicted of those offenses,
Huyett stated.
The charges against Strohl were brought in three counts, ranging
from Class X to Class 1 felonies. Strohl's bond was set at $100,000,
with 10 percent to apply. No date and time for Strohl was set at the
time of this release.
The state's attorney has lodged the following charges against
Short and Strohl:
Diana R. Short:
Count 1 -- Unlawful criminal drug conspiracy,a Class X
felony, with the intent that the offense of the unlawful manufacture
of controlled substance be committed. Agreed with Brianna Strohl to
the commission of that offense in that said defendant and Brianna
Strohl agreed to knowingly manufacture 15 grams or more but less
than 100 grams of a substance containing methamphetamine, a
controlled substance; in that defendant directed Brianna Strohl to
accumulate a quantity of pseudoephedrine pills, a methamphetamine
manufacturing chemical, for the purpose of manufacturing 15 grams or
more but less than 100 grams of a substance containing
methamphetamine.
Count 2 -- Conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, a Class X
felony, charges that on or between May 5 to July 17, in Logan
County, Diana R. Short committed the offense of unlawful criminal
drug conspiracy with the intent of the offense of the unlawful
manufacture of controlled substance.
Count 3 -- Unlawful criminal drug conspiracy,a Class 1
felony, with the intent of the offense of unlawful possession of
methamphetamine manufacturing chemicals. Unlawful possession of
methamphetamine manufacturing chemicals, a Class 1 felony. Defendant
knowingly possessed pseudoephedrine, a methamphetamine manufacturing
chemical, with the intent to manufacture 15 grams or more but less
than 30 grams of a substance containing methamphetamine, a
controlled substance.
Count 4 -- Solicitation, a Class 2 felony, with the intent that
the offense of unlawful possession of methamphetamine manufacturing
chemicals be committed. Requested Brianna Strohl to commit that
offense.
Brianna D. Strohl:
Count 1 -- Unlawful criminal drug conspiracy,a Class X
felony, with the intent of the offense of unlawful manufacture of a
controlled substance on or between May 5 and July 17 in Logan
County.
Count 2 -- Unlawful criminal drug conspiracy, a Class 1 felony,
with the intent of the offense of unlawful possession of
methamphetamine manufacturing chemicals.
Count 3 -- Unlawful possession of methamphetamine manufacturing
chemicals, a Class 1 felony. Defendant knowingly possessed
pseudoephedrine, a methamphetamine manufacturing chemical, with the
intent to manufacture 15 grams or more but less than 30 grams of a
substance containing methamphetamine, a controlled substance.
