Dubuque Cook Sets Apartment Blaze, Sentenced to Over Seven Years

Disaster struck in Dubuque, Iowa, when a man’s attempt to cook methamphetamine led not only to the destruction of his own apartment but also an entire building, including a local restaurant. Donald Sheldon, 47, was sentenced on July 29, 2014, to over seven years in federal prison for starting the blaze.

The April 3, 2014, incident saw Sheldon’s apartment serve as the site of a clandestine meth lab. Unfortunately, the chemicals involved proved volatile and led to an explosion that quickly engulfed the building in flames. The fire not only damaged Sheldon’s apartment but also the adjacent property, which housed a restaurant.

Sheldon pleaded guilty on April 3, 2014, to charges of attempting and aiding and abetting the manufacture of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school. His accomplice, Joshuah Tiesman, was previously sentenced to 96 months for his role in the meth cook.

United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade handed down Sheldon’s sentence of 87 months’ imprisonment, along with a special assessment of $100 and an order to pay $94,682 in restitution to the victims. Following his prison term, Sheldon is expected to serve a six-year term of supervised release.

Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Dubuque, Iowa, Drug Task Force. Court file information for this case, CR13-1019-2-LRR, can be accessed at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.

Sheldon is currently in the custody of the United States Marshal’s Service until he can be transported to a federal prison to serve his sentence. This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers associated with drug manufacturing and the potential for catastrophic results when handled improperly.