Preliminary hearing set Thursday for Richard C. Nitschke

STAR JOURNAL REPORT

A reduction in bond was denied Monday in Oneida County Circuit Court for a 51-year-old Rhinelander man faces multiple felony charges related to methamphetamine.

Judge Patrick F. O’Melia decided against lowering the cash bond from $25,000 to $10,000 for Richard C. Nitschke, who remains in custody in the Oneida County Jail.

Nitschke’s attorney, Steven Richards, who appeared by phone for the adjourned initial appearance, argued there was no evidence of Nitschke being a flight risk or someone who wouldn’t show up for court hearings.

However, assistant district attorney Jillian Pfiefer opposed a reduction in bond, noting that Nitschke was accused of being involved in a “shake-and-bake operation” related to the manufacturing of methamphetamine.

O’Melia said the charges Nitschke faced were severe and kept the bond amount at $25,000 cash. O’Melia also set Nitschke’s preliminary hearing for Thursday at 1:15 p.m.

Nitschke and Andrea D. Healy, 50, were arrested late last month following an investigation at their residence on Margaret Street in Rhinelander.

Healy, who also appeared in court Monday for an adjourned initial appearance via teleconference from the jail with her attorney, Richard John Shawl, remains in custody and has her preliminary hearing set for Jan. 19.

Both Nitschke and Healy were previously arrested and faced charges related to the manufacturing of methamphetamine back in January 2015.