A Millersburg man is facing a mandatory three years in prison after pleading to charges that he cooked and sold meth at his County Road 58 residence.

William Scott Woodruff, 44, of 3591 County Road 58, pleaded guilty Tuesday, March 22, in Holmes County Common Pleas Court, to illegal manufacture of methamphetamine and two counts of aggravated trafficking in methamphetamine. He faces a mandatory three years in prison on the illegal manufacture charge and a maximum of 11 years in prison on all charges.

The charges stem from an Oct. 22 raid on Woodruff’s residence by Holmes County sheriff’s deputies and the Medway Drug Enforcement Agency. According to Holmes County Prosecuting Attorney Steve Knowling, an “active” meth cooking operation was under way when law enforcement entered the residence.

“(Woodruff) was in the actual process of an active cook,” Knowling said. “During the course of execution of the search warrant, deputies found meth packaged for sale. In the month leading up to the search warrant...at least once (a confidential informant) purchased meth from Woodruff and his codefendant.”

Woodruff’s codefendant, Brandy Sinnett, 37, also of 3591 County Road 58, previously pleaded guilty to seven counts of trafficking in methamphetamine and was sentenced to one year in prison. At Sinnett’s sentencing hearing, Knowling said the criminal behavior at Sinnett’s and Woodruff’s residence amounted to a “mini-criminal enterprise” capable of turning out hundreds of grams of meth per year.

Woodruff’s attorney, Bing Miller, said, “there is some question as to who started that actual cook” Oct. 22, but said Woodruff has owned up to his responsibility in the matter.

Visiting Judge David Stucki ordered a presentence investigation and scheduled sentencing for May 3.