(Sioux City)– A Spirit Lake man acquitted of murder in 2000 in the beating death of two-year-old Shelby Duis was sentenced this (Wednesday) morning to more than nine years in federal prison on a drug charge.
32-year-old Jesse Wendelsdorf received the prison term after a jury found him guilty on August 18th, 2005 of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine in the Spirit Lake area. Evidence presented at trial showed that between about January 2001 and November 25, 2003 Wendelsdorf conspired with others to manufacture and distribute five or more grams of pure methamphetamine.
At his sentencing this (Wednesday) morning in federal court in Sioux City, the government asked Judge Mark Bennett to consider facts relating to the murder of Shelby Duis. Bennett declined, saying Wendelsdorf was acquitted of the murder in state court.
Wendelsdorf was sentenced to 115 months imprisonment and will have to serve a term of supervised release for four years after the prison term.
Wendelsdorf is being held in the custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
