A Hutchinson man facing a federal a gun charge was in court Tuesday morning for a preliminary hearing in a drug case and was bound over for trial by District Judge Joe McCarville.
Jason Casanova is accused of a numerous charges associated with an alleged meth lab which was found after a search warrant was served at 6210 North Tobacco Road. Items consistent with a meth lab were found according to Hutchinson Police Detective Glenn McMurray. The search occurring on August 31.
McMurray testified that when they entered the storage unit, they found a gray tote bag, and inside was small green oxygen tank with a green tube attached they believed was used as a gassing generator in the meth making process. They also allegedly found a coffee grinder which he says was used to grind up pseudoephedrine, which is used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. They also found a 22-pound propane tank which was used to store anhydrous ammonia. They also found coffee filters and some plastic bottles.
After McMurray and Drug Unit Detective Shawn McClay testified that white residue tested positive for Sudafed, Deputy District Attorney Tom Stanton requested that an additional charged of possession of pseudoephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine be added to the complaint, which was granted.
Other charges include manufacture of methamphetamine, or in the alternative, attempt to manufacture, possession of lithium, anhydrous ammonia, both with intent to manufacture, possession of anhydrous in an unapproved container, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to manufacture, theft, in this case a tool box and tools, which reportedly belonged to USD 308, the Hutchinson school district, or in the alternative, possession of stolen property.
With Casanova being bound over for trial in this case, he faces an arraignment in the case in early January.
He along with Kylie Hartman are also both charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery in a separate case which allegedly occurred in June, the same month that a Hutchinson woman, Jennifer Heckel was murdered in her northwest Hutchinson home. The state dropped that same charge against a third person, Matthew Barnes. That case is still pending in District Court.
If convicted on the federal gun charge, Casanova could face a maximum of 10-years in federal prison. He’s also looking at a significant amount of time in state prison if he’s convicted in the meth case, as well as the conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery.