One of the individuals indicted last summer on meth-related charges had her bond rescinded this week following her arrest Tuesday on DUI charges in Ripley.
Autumn Kessel, 24, of Ravenswood was arrested by Ripley Police for allegedly driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of greater than .08 Tuesday evening.
Kessel had previously been indicted in July on two felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine and two felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.
According to the complaint filed by Patrolman Brian Anderson of the Ripley PD, at approximately 8:09 p.m. Tuesday, he was dispatched to Northern Trailer Park in Ripley in reference to a vehicle speeding in the park that allegedly wrecked into another vehicle.
Upon arriving at the scene, Anderson allegedly found Kessel hiding in the bushes. Kessel allegedly told Anderson that she got into her husband’s car because she was fighting with him and drove the vehicle very fast and hit another white vehicle in the trailer park. Kessel allegedly said that she was hiding in the bushes because she knew that she was drunk and driving a car.
Anderson conducted a field sobriety test on Kessel at the scene, which she allegedly failed. He then transported her back to the Ripley Police Department to conduct three other standard sobriety tests, all of which she allegedly failed as well.
According to the complaint, a subsequent secondary chemical test determined Kessel’s BAC to be .187, over twice the legal limit.
Kessel was then placed under arrest on the DUI charge and transported to South Central Regional Jail to await arraignment.
The following morning, the interim Prosecuting Attorney Roger William’s office began bond revocation proceedings against Kessel. According to the bond agreement from her meth case, one of the conditions of her bond was to avoid any type of criminal activity.
Judge Thomas C. Evans, III, granted a temporary order rescinding bond in the meth case. A further hearing on the matter was set for Monday, March 8, at 2:30 p.m. in Jackson County Circuit Court. Kessel remains incarcerated at South Central Regional Jail pending the outcome of that hearing.
