FAYETTE COUNTY — Bail has been set at $10,000 for a 39-year-old Olney man held in the Fayette County Jail on meth and gun-related charges following a weekend arrest in Farina.

Nathan J. Weidner (Source: FCSO)
Nathan J. Weidner
(Source: FCSO)

Nathan J. Weidner was formally charged today in Fayette County Court with Class 1 felony possession of between 15 and 100 grams of methamphetamine and Class 4 felony aggravated unlawful use of a weapon on a person.

According to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, Weidner was arrested Sunday after he allegedly entered Ellen’s Café in Farina while carrying a handgun and behaving erratically.

When a sheriff’s deputy arrived on the scene, Weidner had already put down the firearm and was standing in the door of the restaurant.

He was taken into custody without incident. It was at that time deputies reportedly located a small amount of meth on Weidner. He then reportedly admitted to having more meth outside in a car. Deputies allegedly found 55 grams of methamphetamine in the vehicle.

Two individuals who were reportedly with Weidner when he arrived at the restaurant reportedly fled from the vehicle before deputies arrived. A search for the male and female was conducted by Fayette County Sheriff’s deputies, Illinois State Police and an Illinois Department of Conservation officer.

While the two were not located, and law enforcement is working to identify the man, the female has been identified as a Salem woman. Charges are expected to be filed against both.