HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 35-year-old Hutchinson man who entered guilty pleas to being involved with the manufacturing methamphetamine back in 2012 was sentenced Thursday morning to fifteen years, eight months in prison. .
Matthew Foulk pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, possession of lithium metal, anhydrous ammonia and ephedrine, all with intent to manufacture, possession of anhydrous ammonia in an unapproved container and possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute. He also plead guilty to 4 of 9-counts of failing to register as a drug offender in a separate case.
Defense Attorney Carl Maughn argued for a downward departure for his client while Deputy District Attorney Tom Stanton wanted prison time. Stanton won out as Judge Trish Rose denied the defense request.
Foulk was convicted in a case where a Reno County Sheriff Deputy had stopped him for an expired tag in the 400 block of North Adams. During that stop, he threw out a blue bag from his car which contained a zip-lock bag of white pills, later identified as ephedrine.
That led to a search warrant being served on a home on North Herren Rd., and they found another floor mat that matched the one in his vehicle. They also allegedly found peeled lithium batteries, Coleman fuel containers, empty starting fluid cans, acids, salts, numerous empty plastic containers and pitchers, a grunge substance and a propane tank which contained the ammonia.
Foulk has served time in the past for a meth manufacturing case in Reno County in 2003 and 2004, and a flee and elude case in Harvey County in 1999.