Cops: Two Illinois women arrested for cooking meth in church

HILLSBORO, Ill. - Southern Illinois authorities have charged two women with cooking methamphetamine in a rural Hillsboro church.

The State Journal-Register reports 53-year-old Judith Hemken, of Litchfield, and 26-year-old Tiffany Burton, of Hillsboro, were charged Wednesday with participating in manufacturing meth in a church.

Due to enhanced sentencing guidelines that take into consideration meth lab location, they could each face nine to 40 years in prison if convicted, according to The Journal-News.

Undersheriff Rick Robbins says authorities responded to a call Tuesday from a Waveland Church member about an apparent meth lab. He says deputies stopped a vehicle the caller had described and arrested the women. Neither suspect has any affiliation with the church.

Robbins says authorities found and dismantled the lab. The Journal-News reports that a fire broke out while officials were cleaning up the scene, but law enforcement officers were able to put it out with no injuries.

Hemken's bond was set at $200,000; she was already on probation after pleading guilty to felony drug charges on July 24, according to The Journal-News. Burton's bond was set at $100,000.

It wasn't immediately clear if they have attorneys.