Two Meth Lab Busts in Lexington County Land 8 People in Jail, 2 Children in Protective Custody

Lexington County law enforcement officers raided two homes in Batesburg-Leesville after receiving information about meth lab operations in the houses. The two meth labs were not connected. Eight people have been arrested, and at one home, two children have been put into protective custody.

Lexington County Sheriff James R. Metts said NET officers arrested Joey Dean Cockrell, 35, of 312 Senterfeit Road, Batesburg; Clayton Ryan Conyers, 25, of 508 Etheridge Street, Batesburg; Dennis Alan Hall, 47, of 528 Etheridge Street, Batesburg; Jeremy Neal Hall, 34, of 420 Old Field Road, Leesville; Tippany Lynne Hall, 36, of 420 Old Field Road, Leesville; Rebekah Dee Heslewood, 24, of 120 Rodeo Lane, Saluda; Shannon Lynn Jones, 32, of 1007 Hunt Road, Unit 2, Lexington; and Michelle Marie Webb, 25, of 705 Goldie Road, Unit P-3, Leesville.

The first meth lab bust, which occurred Wednesday, October 2^nd, in the evening, was at the home of Joe Dean Cockrell. Deputies reported smelling the typical harsh chemical associated with cooking meth, and when they executed a search warrant, they seized one small plastic bag in the kitchen sink containing a white substance, as well as one straw and one razor blade. Officers also found a straw and a metal pipe on top of a tin container, and a two-liter bottle on a chair, which had residue indicating it had been used to quick-cook meth. Officers arrested Cockrell along with Shannon Lynn Jones at the house.

In a separate meth lab bust, officers reportedly found 7 reaction vessels, along with plastic bags, scales, pseudoephedrine pills, and other materials used in manufacturing methamphetamines. Two children, 9 and 11 years old, were found in the home and placed in protective custody. NET officers arrested Conyers, Dennis Hall, Jeremy Hall, Tippany Hall, Heslewood and Webb on charges of manufacturing methamphetamine, possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it, illegally altering pseudoephedrine and unlawfully exposing a child to a methamphetamine laboratory in connection with the methamphetamine laboratory.

All 8 suspects were being held in the Lexington County Detention Center as of Thursday, October 3^rd.

Lexington County Continues Successful Campaign of Drug Busts on Meth Labs Throughout the County

In 2001, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department implemented the Narcotics Enforcement Team (NET) to help with drug problems, especially the growing problem of meth labs and meth manufacturing, in Lexington County. Last year, Lexington County law enforcement officers announced that they would begin a campaign to round up criminals who manufactured and distributed drugs, especially methamphetamines. Operations began in October 2012, with at least 13 reported arrests related to meth labs in Lexington County. Throughout this year, officers arrested several more suspects for operating meth labs in West Columbia and Lexington.

The Strom Law Firm Can Help with Meth Lab Drug Crimes Charges

Federal and State drug charges in South Carolina carry some of the stiffest penalties in the nation. When faced with a drug charge, including charges for operating a meth lab, you need a lawyer who knows how the system works and will fight to protect your rights.

Whether you have been charged with:

• Possession of drugs
• Possession with intent to distribute
• Drug trafficking
• Possession of drugs in the proximity of a school
• Prescription Fraud
• Manufacturing Methamphetamine or
• Money laundering

The drug crime attorneys at Strom Law Firm, LLC will aggressively defend your case whether you are under investigation or have been arrested for drugs in all State and Federal Courts in South Carolina as well as the Federal Courts in Georgia. Drug cases, including meth lab busts, need to be examined from every angle, and in many cases are subject to mandatory minimum sentences. Aggressive representation can protect your future. Drug crime charges and drug busts in South Carolina are very serious. If you have been charged with possession, trafficking, or manufacturing drugs, the attorneys at the Strom Law Firm can help. We offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your case, so contact us today by calling (803)252-4800.