Missouri man faces jail for possession with intent to deliver cocaine.

Timothy Rabenberg appears in 27th Circuit Court via Zoom video conferencing.

Missouri man faces jail for possession with intent to deliver cocaine.

By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.

HART — A 24-year-old Missouri man pleaded guilty in 27th Circuit Court Monday, July 12, to possession with intent to deliver 50 grams or less of cocaine.

Timothy Conrad Rabenberg initially faced more serious charges of controlled substance delivery/manufacture (narcotic/cocaine) 50-224 grams and controlled substance delivery following his arrest by the State, Sheriffs’, Chiefs’ Enforcement of Narcotics Team (SSCENT).

Those charges were dismissed in a plea agreement which calls for a jail term not to exceed nine months and three years probation. 

“There is a lengthy record of the defendant and drugs involved,” said Judge Robert D. Springstead.

Sentencing guidelines in the case are 0-17 months. The maximum penalty for the conviction is 20 years in prison.

“I believe that what I did was wrong,” said Rabenberg.

The incident occurred at the Stony Lake swimming area last summer. “I picked up what I perceived to be a friend of mine,” Rabenberg testified. The friend turned out to be a crime informant. 

“My intent — I was told by the informant — that I needed to bring something to show I would play ball with them. I had no intention to sell it — I was going to give it to them in exchange for medicinal marijuana.”

The value of the cocaine was approximately $3,000, said Rabenberg. 

“The plan was to trade it and then bring the marijuana back to Missouri. I would be able to get the medicine that I can’t get in my state.”

Sentencing is set for Sept. 20 at 8:50 a.m.

Please consider helping to fund local news. Mason County Press and Oceana County Press are available for free thanks to the generous support of our advertisers and individuals who support our service. Click on the PayPal donation button located on the top right of our website.

This story is copyrighted © 2021, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent.

As the services of Media Group 31, LLC are news services, the information posted within the sites are archivable for public record and historical posterity. For this reason it is the policy and practice of this company to not delete postings. It is the editor’s discretion to update or edit a story when/if new information becomes available. This may be done by editing the posted story or posting a new “follow-up” story. Media Group 31, LLC or any of its agents have the right to make any changes to this policy. Refer to Use Policy for more information.