CEDAR RAPIDS -- A methamphetamine cook who escaped police by jumping from a cliff in 2003 was unable this week to elude jurors or drug and weapons charges.

Dale Lucas, 37, of Waucoma, on Tuesday was convicted of attempting to manufacture meth after a prior felony conviction, of being a felon in possession of a firearm and of carrying a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime.

Jurors reached that conclusion in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids. Their decision came after two days of trial and four hours of deliberation.

Lucas, who also has drug convictions in Winneshiek County and Wisconsin, is facing up to life in prison and a $2.5 million fine. Sentencing will be later but he remains in the custody of U.S. marshals.

Police officers tried to stop Lucas in December 2003 but he refused to pull over and instead led them on a high-speed chase, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Tvedt.

Lucas' vehicle blew a tire south of Waukon, and he ditched the car. After running into a wooded area, he eventually eluded officers by jumping off a 30-foot bluff.

Police found a loaded .22-caliber Tech-22 handgun near Lucas' car and a lab capable of producing 3.8 grams of pure meth was in the trunk.

Authorities in Crawford County, Wis., arrested Lucas five days later, charging him with possession of anhydrous ammonia with intent to manufacture meth. He was convicted in 2004.

His prior record includes a conviction in January 2002 in Winneshiek County for possession of meth precursors.

The case was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Waukon and Sumner police departments, the Allamakee and Crawford county sheriffs' offices and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

Contact Jeff Reinitz at (319) 291-1578 or jeff.reinitz@wcfcourier.com.