Kansas City Man Convicted of Possessing Methamphetamine and Marijuana
Kansas City, MO – A Kansas City man was convicted of possessing methamphetamine and marijuana after a high-speed pursuit and foot chase by police officers.
Christopher J. Kessler, 29, was found guilty of one count of possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and one count of possessing marijuana.
The incident occurred on March 5, 2016, when an Independence police officer attempted to stop a Ford Explorer driven by Kessler, who was traveling at a high rate of speed and made an abrupt turn without signaling.
The officer pursued Kessler, who reached a speed of 105 miles per hour, at times driving in the opposite lanes of traffic without his vehicle lights on. Kessler eventually led officers on a pursuit through a hotel and back out to the street before being tackled to the ground.
During the arrest, Kessler continued to resist officers by placing his hands around and under his face. He bit one of the officers in the finger and wrist, breaking the skin. Additional officers assisted in securing Kessler in handcuffs.
Officers searched Kessler and found a clear plastic baggie that contained at least 50.9 grams of pure methamphetamine in his right front pocket, as well as a smaller clear plastic baggie that contained seven grams of marijuana.
Kessler’s sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. Under federal statutes, Kessler is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole.
The case was investigated by the Independence Police Department and the Kansas City Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily A. Morgan and Patrick Edwards.
Christopher J. Kessler was arrested on March 5, 2016, and found guilty on September 25, 2017. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole.
Defendant: Christopher J. Kessler
Criminal Charges: Possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, Possessing marijuana
City and State: Kansas City, MO
Exact Date: March 5, 2016 (arrest), September 25, 2017 (sentencing)
Sentence or Outcome: Mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole.
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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