Two Lexington Residents Arrested After Bottle Meth Lab Found in Home

Two people were arrested and charged with drug crimes on Saturday, June 8th, after investigators found them operating a meth lab in their home.

Sharron Lynn Jones, 32, and Jessie James York, 34, have both been arrested and charged with manufacturing methamphetamine.

Officers went to York’s home late on Saturday night after responding to a call about a dispute between York and one of his neighbors. As the police officers got closer to the house, they could smell the characteristic whiff of cooking meth. They found a bottle that had been used to make meth inside a laundry basket outside. They they went inside to investigate further.

Reportedly, there was a thick cloud of smoke inside the home, which is another indication that a meth lab is cooking methamphetamine. The officers discovered a second bottle in the bathroom which was actively being used to make methamphetamine.

York and Jones are currently being held at the Lexington County Detention Center on $15,000 bond.

Portable Meth Labs Are A Growing Problem in South Carolina

Portable meth labs are becoming more and more prevalent throughout both South Carolina and the nation. These labs, often referred to as “shake and bake” labs, create a small amount of meth with less paraphernalia. They are also more difficult to detect than larger meth labs, which often have to be situated in a house. Shake and bake meth labs use a 16-ounce plastic bottle, ammonia (which must be stowed since it comes in large containers, so meth manufacturers often hide the containers in the woods), and pseudoephedrine, often found in cough syrup and decongestant pills.

Statistics from 2000 show that South Carolina had one of the lowest rates of methamphetamine use in the country. However, those numbers are changing as meth labs become more portable, and meth manufacturers become more savvy. Between 2007 and 2011, incidents of busted meth labs increased more than 10 times – 26 in 2007, to 267 in 2011. News reports show meth lab busts in some part of South Carolina nearly every week.

The portable meth labs use less of the drug by creating smaller amounts of methamphetamine. However, all meth labs use dangerous, deadly chemicals, and are prone to explosions – even the portable ones. In the shake and bake method, manufacturers must constantly unscrew the lid of the bottle to relieve pressure. When not monitored closely, the bottles can explode, spraying dangerous chemicals everywhere.

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

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.