Iowa man convicted of distributing methamphetamine near high school

SIOUX CITY (KTIV) - A Palo Alto man was convicted of distributing methamphetamine near Emmetsburg High School.

Fifty-seven-year-old David Specketer of Emmetsburg, Iowa pleaded guilty to the charge during a plea hearing on Thursday, Nov. 14. At this hearing, he reportedly admitted to distributing methamphetamine to another person.

The United States Attorney's Office says law enforcement on April 15, 2024, attempted to arrest Specketer at his Emmetsburg home on an arrest warrant. The warrant involved a pending 2022 charge of possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine out of Woodbury County.

The attorney's office says Specketer attempted to run back into his Emmetsburg home after law enforcement tried to apprehend him at the door.

Law enforcement was able to apprehend Specketer at his home with one ounce of methamphetamine.

The attorney's office says Specketer's residence is within 1,000 feet of Emmetsburg High School which is considered to be a protected location.

The U.S. Attorney's office says a sentencing hearing before a judge has yet to be set, but he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in prison or a possible imprisonment of 80 years. He also faces $10,000,000 fine and around 8 years of supervised release.

As of now, Specketer remains in the custody of the United States Marshals Service before his sentencing.

The U.S. Attorney's Office says the Emmetsburg Police Department and Palo Alto County Sheriff's Office investigated this case with assistance from the Iowa DCI Laboratory and Woodbury County Sheriff's Office.