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

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

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

By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.

HART — A 25-year-old Missouri man was sentenced to nine months in jail for a conviction of possession with intent to deliver 50 grams or less of cocaine in 27th Circuit Court Monday, Nov. 1.

Timothy Conrad Rabenberg pleaded guilty, July 12.

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, Sheriff, City Enforcement of Narcotics Team (SSCENT). Those charges were dismissed in a plea agreement.

“Since July 2020, I have been in a mental jail filled with regret and remorse for my actions for the crime I committed,” Rabenberg told Judge Robert D. Springstead. “I stand before you a different man than I was when I committed this crime.”

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 previously. 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.”

His mother, sister, girlfriend and a priest traveled from Missouri to appear in court in support of him Monday, said his attorney Eric Fox. “Tim is not a drug trafficker in the classic sense of the term.”

Sentencing guidelines in the case were initially scored at 0-17 months, and a nine-month sentence was agreed upon. But his guidelines increased to 29-57 months for the minimum term with a maximum of 20 years when it was inferred that he transported the drugs from out of state.

“You should be looking at 29 months in prison for what you did,” said Judge Springstead.

“The reason that made the guidelines go up is the inference that he brought the drugs from another state,” said Oceana County Prosecutor Joseph Bizon. 

“His guidelines were higher than expected because of the inference that he brought the drugs across a state line. But he faces serious consequences back home, and I argued — and the judge agreed — that nine months was sufficient for our case. Missouri can impose further consequences when he gets done.” Rabenberg is currently on probation  in his home state. 

The judge said that Rabenberg has nine prior felony convictions.

“This was a fairly major crime for here (in Oceana County),” said Judge Springstead.

He received credit for 46 days served in jail. 

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