(COLDWATER) – Sentence has been handed down to a second suspect following a long time meth investigation.

Branch County Circuit Court officials say that 33 year old Joseph Gaskill has been given a sentence of 5 to 15 years in prison, after Gaskill entered a guilty plea in October to possession of meth as a second offender.

The Branch County Sheriff's Office had been conducting a long investigation to battle the meth problem in the County. Deputies executed a search warrant in December 2024 at Gaskill’s home. The search uncovered over 80 grams of meth, scales, syringes, packaging materials, pipes and a sawed off shotgun.

Court officials say Gaskill’s sentence will be served consecutively to a previous conviction for possession of cocaine.

Gaskill’s housemate Ray Zierle, was also arrested during the search. He was sentenced in August to 9 to 20 years, after pleading no contest to delivery of meth.