Brothers suspected in meth lab face more charges

5/15/2004

PIONEER, Ohio - Authorities who discovered materials used in the manufacture of methamphetamines after responding to a domestic violence call this week added drug charges to the Indiana warrants on which they held two brothers.

The Multi Area Narcotics Task Force charged Matthew Richter, 39, with illegal manufacture of drugs, a second-degree felony.

His younger brother Douglas Wayne Richter, 37, was charged with aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. The Williams County sheriff's department added two domestic violence charges for Douglas Wayne Richter, whose wife had called authorities.

Both appeared in Bryan Municipal Court Thursday where bond was set for Matthew Richter at $100,000 cash and for Douglas Richter at $50,000 cash. They were arrested after a domestic-violence call late Tuesday from their home at 13948 County Road 17 southeast of Pioneer on felony warrants from Steuben County, Ind.

Their nephew, James P. Richter, 19, of the same address, also was arrested on a warrant from Steuben County, which is adjacent to Williams County. He waived his extradition hearing in Bryan Municipal Court Thursday and was expected to be transported this week from the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio, where all three were being held, to Steuben County.

Preliminary hearings for Matthew and Douglas Richter are scheduled for Wednesday in Bryan. The Williams County grand jury is to consider further charges Wednesday, said Jeremy Viers, a task force agent.

The Richters, who are from Steuben County, have been cooking meth in Williams County for a month, Mr. Viers said.