IRON MOUNTAIN – An Iron Mountain woman who contributed to the operation of a methamphetamine lab in her apartment will be spending the next five years in prison.

Anita Ruth Lindlbauer, 32, received the sentence Tuesday in Dickinson County Circuit Court. In addition to serving prison time, she is responsible with her co-defendant for paying more than $8,000 worth of restitution.

Lindlbauer had previously pleaded guilty to one felony count of operating or maintaining a methamphetamine lab.

The charge stems from an Oct. 2 incident in Iron Mountain.

Acting on a tip, Iron Mountain Police Department officers responded to an apartment located at 501 Pewabic Street to investigate a suspected methamphetamine lab. They found and seized various ingredients used to manufacture methamphetamine, as well as finished methamphetamine.

According to the criminal complaint, Lindlbauer lived in the apartment, and admitted to supplying materials for the manufacture of methamphetamine.

Her co-defendant, 42-year-old Dennis Daniel Schuirmann of Kingsford, admitted to producing methamphetamine in the apartment. He was sentenced earlier this year to serve four years and two months in prison.

During the sentencing hearing, defense attorney Kalen Lipe argued that Lindlbauer and Schuirmann’s operation was a small one that produced a minimal amount of methamphetamine.

“It was a single, one-man, just barely-started operation for personal use,” she said.

Lipe added that Lindlbauer spent little time in the apartment, but she did allow the methamphetamine production to occur there.

“That cooperation (with Schuirmann) is costing her a lot,” said Lipe.

Dickinson County Prosecutor Lisa Richards pointed out that Lindlbauer not only allowed Schuirmann to operate the lab in her apartment, but she provided the materials and used the finished product.

Richards said that the matter was made worse, since Lindlbauer lived in a multi-unit apartment building.

“Residents of the building were displaced for several weeks while it was determined if their units were contaminated,” she explained. “Fortunately, the contamination was contained to Ms. Lindlbauer’s unit, but it’s important for people to know that this is not a loss covered by insurance.”

Furthermore, Richards argued that Lindlbauer has not changed her ways even after spending some time in jail. She claimed that Lindlbauer was involved in an attempt to smuggle prescription drugs into the Dickinson County Jail. The individual who was solicited by Lindlbauer to leave drugs at a location within the jail later confessed to the scheme, said Richards.

Lindlbauer disputed the allegation, saying that she asked the individual for cigarettes, not prescription drugs.

When given a chance to address the court, Lindlbauer expressed remorse.

“I want to apologize to my family, the court, and the community for my actions that brought me here today,” she said.

Judge Mary B. Barglind doubted Lipe’s account that Lindlbauer and Schuirmann’s operation was small and personal.

“To say that this was Mr. Schuirmann’s personal use, personal meth lab – I don’t believe that,” she said.

Judge Barglind pointed out that court documents indicated that others had been solicited to bring in substances to make methamphetamine.

Due to Lindlbauer’s previous criminal history, Judge Barglind said that her rehabilitation is becoming less of a priority for the court. Punishing her and deterring others from engaging in drug activity are becoming more important, she said.

“It’s time to grow up, it’s time to change,” Judge Barglind told Lindlbauer.

Nikki Younk’s e-mail address is nyounk@ironmountaindailynews.com.