Shane Cook pleads guilty to charges
A Dickinson man pleaded guilty Monday to reckless endangerment and possession of a controlled substance, after a meth lab he created exploded in his apartment in February, forcing an evacuation.
During the hearing at the Stark County Courthouse, Shane Cook, 40, changed his plea to not guilty and waived his rights to a trial, to remain silent and to have the state prove its case before he was sentenced to 18 months in jail.
He will receive credit for days that he participates in Teen Challenge, which is a “professional, Christ-centered recovery” to adults with substance abuse issues.”
Cook offered the court a tearful apology “to the community of Dickinson” for the damage his actions caused.
Stark County State’s Attorney Tom Henning said Cook’s actions after he completes the Teen Challenge program will be critical.
“After he completes Teen Challenge, it will be a matter of who he associates himself with and making sure he stays away from the wrong people,” he said.
Henning said that when Cook’s friends left his apartment the night of the explosion, Cook used a two-liter bottle and left-over ingredients to make meth, as he and his friends were doing earlier. In the process, Henning said the bottle exploded in his apartment.
In addition to his sentence, Cook will be required to pay restitution for the damaged caused to the apartment. A restitution hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
Southwest District Judge William Herauf warned Cook not to violate his sentence and to focus on his rehabilitation.
“Obviously, you should have thought of the people you put in danger,” he said. “Methamphetamine is an addictive drug. You need help with your addiction, and it is unfortunate that had to come to this. I hope you take all of this to heart and get away from methamphetamine. I wish you the best of luck, sir, because you need some help.”
Cook’s attorney, Kevin McCabe, said after court that the sentence was fair.
“Under the circumstance, yes, the sentence was fair and (Cook) wants to receive help,” he said.