Joplin man pleads guilty to federal meth trafficking, weapons charges

A Joplin man pleaded guilty Friday in U. S. District Court in Springfield to one charge of meth trafficking and one charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Sentencing will be held at a later date for Christopher L. Meister, 42, whose crimes were detailed in a detention motion filed in March 2019 by the U. S. Attorney's office:

On March 11, 2019, officers conducted a controlled-delivery of a package suspected of containing narcotics to a residence in Joplin, Missouri. Defendant accepted the package and returned to the residence, at which time officers executed a previously obtained search warrant.

Defendant was found in the master bedroom with the package and a loaded, .45-caliber firearm within reach.

A search of the package Defendant accepted yielded approximately 10 pounds of suspected methamphetamine. Additionally, officers discovered numerous firearms in the master bedroom where Defendant was found, including an assault rifle and a tactical shotgun.

Law enforcement records suggest Defendant has previously been arrested for the following offenses:

a. First degree domestic assault and unlawful use of a weapon on or about July 19, 2014, in Jasper County, Missouri;

b. Third degree domestic assault on or about July 12, 2012, in Jasper County, Missouri;

c. Possession of marijuana on or about November 4, 2009, in Jasper County, Missouri;

d. Third degree assault on or about September 16, 2002, in Jasper County, Missouri;

e. Obstruction of judicial process, stealing, and driving while impaired by alcohol on or about March 18, 2002, in Jasper County, Missouri; and

f. Driving while impaired by alcohol on or about December 14, 1996, in Jasper County, Missouri.

Reports associated with Defendant’s arrest on July 19, 2014, reveal the following:

a. Law enforcement responded to Defendant’s resident after a report of Defendant “shooting at a female subject.”

b. Sheriff’s deputies made contact with the female, who reported that Defendant became violent with her that evening so she retrieved a knife to protect herself. The female stated that she then pointed the knife at Defendant and told him to get out. This prompted Defendant to retrieve a .45-caliber firearm and shoot it one time at the female’s foot.

c. When interviewed, Defendant admitted shooting the firearm at the female’s foot, but stated it was in self-defense. Deputies did observe wounds on Defendant’s person.

d. Deputies noted that the female appeared intoxicated and a sample of Defendant’s breath taken at the Carthage, Missouri, Jail showed an alcohol content of 0.057.