Charles City man to plead guilty to reduced charge in portable meth lab case

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

A Charles City man who was arrested in October for allegedly trying to manufacture methamphetamine in a backpack “mobile meth lab” is pleading guilty to a reduced charge.

Earlier this month, District Court Judge Chris Foy approved a motion by the Floyd County Attorney’s Office to change the charge in the case from a Class B felony to a Class C felony, contingent upon a guilty plea in the case.

Travis Alan Kummer, age 36, was arrested Oct. 15 regarding an incident that had occurred in April where a “mobile meth lab” was located by a trail at the Wildwood Golf Course in Charles City after law enforcement investigated a suspicious backpack.

“The defendant was seen in possession of and located in the area of a black backpack which contained items consistent with the manufacturing of methamphetamine,” a court document said. “The defendant was located near the area where the backpack was discarded and acknowledged possessing and discarding the clandestine laboratory.”

The items were sent to the state crime lab, which confirmed the items inside the backpack “were used to manufacture methamphetamine using the one pot method,” the court record states.

Kummer initially pleaded not guilty to the charge of manufacturing or possessing with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine, involving more than 5 grams but not more than 5 kilograms of meth, a class B felony.

On Nov. 20, the Floyd County Attorney’s Office file a motion to amend the charge to one involving 5 grams or less of meth, a Class C felony, which Judge Foy approved and filed on Dec. 7.

Conviction of a Class B felony is eligible for a penalty of up to 25 years in prison. Conviction of a Class C felony is eligible for up to 10 years in prison. Both convictions can also carry various fines, fees, surcharges and other requirements

A plea change hearing has been set for 10 a.m. Jan. 6, 2020, at the Floyd County courthouse.