Second man charged in Whitewater meth manufacturing investigation

Jonah Beleckis | August 23, 2016

ELKHORN—A second man has been charged in Walworth County Court in connection with a methamphetamine manufacturing investigation that yielded three arrests earlier this month.

Patrick A. Gerber, 37, of 370 N. Tratt St. No. 120, Whitewater, was charged last week with possession of materials for manufacturing meth, according to the criminal complaint.

Members of the Walworth County Sheriff's Office's drug unit conducted a search warrant Aug. 2 at N6619 Anderson Drive in the town of Richmond, where they found pseudoephedrine, batteries containing lithium, drain cleaner, camp stove fuel and iodized salt, according to the complaint.

Gerber admitted to manufacturing meth at the town of Richmond residence, according to the complaint.

Gerber was one of three people arrested when officers reported busting three sites in a 48-hour period, including Gerber's home and the town of Richmond residence.

Walworth County District Attorney Dan Necci could not say last week if the three were working together.

David Coulson, 33, of 370 N. Tratt St. No. 241, Whitewater, was charged Aug. 12 with second-offense possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a firearm by a felon, according to another criminal complaint.

The third person who was arrested in the 48-hour period, Nicole Ponsegrau, 23, has yet to be charged.

Gerber is due back in court at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30, for a preliminary hearing.