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Drug dealer gets prison term

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Eric McIntyre

ELKHORN — A Burlington man described by authorities as one of the main heroin dealers in the Lake Geneva area was convicted Friday to 14 years in prison.

Eric L. McIntyre, 30, of N2402 Charles Young Drive, Burlington, also was sentenced to six years of extended supervision.

Deputy District Attorney Joshua Grube, who prosecutes most Walworth County drug cases, said McIntyre is dangerous and county authorities had focused a great deal of resources to capture him.

McIntyre pleaded guilty to manufacturing and possessing heroin with intent to deliver and two counts of possession of firearm by a felon. Seven other charges, mostly for possession of firearm by a felon and manufacture with intent to deliver heroin, were dismissed but read into the court record.

McIntyre originally faced a maximum fine of $355,000 and 142 years in prison.

McIntyre was under surveillance by the Walworth County Drug Unit, which worked with a confidential informant to buy heroin three times in April, according to the criminal complaint.

McIntyre was living with his grandmother and girlfriend in Burlington, sheriff’s Capt. Dana Nigbor said.

Deputies had avoided arresting McIntyre at his residence because several sources said he was dangerous and owned several weapons, Grube said.

Once McIntyre was out of the house, deputies were alerted by local authorities and arrested him during a traffic stop on Highway 50 in Walworth County, according to the criminal complaint. He was riding in a car with his girlfriend and had more than $2,000 cash in his pocket at the time of his arrest, according to the criminal complaint.

A search warrant of McIntyre’s residence revealed three rifles, three pistols, 174 tinfoil bindles containing about 17 grams of heroin, 6 grams of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, according to the criminal complaint.

McIntyre’s girlfriend, Shelly Henning, 28, told deputies neither she nor McIntyre have jobs, and they buy what they need using drug money, according to the complaint.

Sgt. Jeff Patek of the Walworth County Drug Enforcement Unit spoke with Henning, and she admitted selling heroin when McIntyre was not available, according to the complaint.

Henning has pleaded not guilty to possession with intent to deliver heroin.

On Friday, defense attorney Melissa Frost said she is waiting for additional discovery material from the prosecution.

Henning is expected in court again on Friday, Oct. 9. If convicted, she faces a maximum fine of $100,000 and 25 years in prison.