Le Roy's meth lab suspects get release from county jail

The final two defendants suspected of taking part in a meth lab operation at 28 Clay St., Le Roy, have gotten their get-out-jail-free cards.

Christopher J. Elmore and Koree R. Stephenson appeared in court this afternoon and Judge Robert C. Noonan granted First Assistant District Attorney David Gann's request to release both pending dismissal of the State charges against them by a lower court.

Like their three other co-defendants, Elmore and Stephenson are facing Federal drug charges and will be on supervised release under Federal jurisdiction. Elmore is also facing charges out of Le Roy for allegedly passing fake $10 bills. No bail had been set in that case, and it was not a factor in today's short hearing.

Bail had originally been set at $75,000 on all five defendants. The original state charge against all five was criminal possession of a controlled substance 2nd.

Yesterday afternoon Kari L. Riggi was released in the afternoon and Nathan D. Bernard was granted release in the morning on the State drug charges, though he's still serving a 90-day sentence on another charge. Joshua A. Miller, who appeared in court with his attorney, was already free pending trial but under a noon to 8 a.m. home curfew, which only allows him time to go to work.

At the federal level, all five are charged with conspiracy to manufacture, distribute or dispense 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Elmore also faces an enhanced weapons charge.

NOTE: This post confirms what we first reported yesterday that all five were due for release and that local charges are in the process of being dismissed.

(Billie Owens contributed to this story.)