Charles City woman sentenced to probation for meth delivery

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

A Charles City woman has received a suspended jail sentence after pleading guilty to selling methamphetamine.

Tammy Fay Berger, age 26, was charged with delivery of methamphetamine, a Class C felony, after selling a small baggie of a white substance for $25 to a confidential informant in the 600 block of South Main Street on Oct. 12, 2018, according to court records.

The substance was sent to the Division of Criminal Investigation lab in Ankeny and tested positive as methamphetamine, with a total weight of 0.22 grams.

In August this year, Berger agreed to plead guilty to the charge in return for a recommendation from the Floyd County Attorney’s Office for a suspended prison sentence and probation.

On Monday, Judge DeDra Schroeder agreed with that recommendation, sentencing Berger to up to 10 years in prison and a $1,000 fine plus 35% surcharge, all suspended, and three to five years of probation.

A judge is not required to go along with the recommendation in a plea agreement, and can issue any sentence appropriate for the crime.

Before filing the guilty plea, Berger’s attorney, Nellie O’Mara of Mason City, had requested that the prosecution reveal the name of the confidential information to see if there was any conflict of interest involving Berger.

According to an order issued by Judge Schroeder, the name was revealed to O’Mara, who determined there was no conflict, and O’Mara was ordered to not reveal the name to Berger.