Five persons appeared in DeKalb County Criminal Court for sentencing in meth lab cases Tuesday, June 23.
Judge David Patterson presided.
Among the defendants was a DeKalb County couple found with a meth lab in the presence of their children last October.
36 year old Michael Shone Saylors and 31 year old Ashley Dawn Saylors, each originally charged with initiation of a process to manufacture methamphetamine and two counts of aggravated child abuse, pled guilty to attempted initiation of a process to manufacture meth.
Michael Saylors received a four year sentence as a range II offender. He must serve at least 35% of the term before his release eligibility date. He was given jail credit of 254 days. Meanwhile, Saylors was found to be in violation of probation in two previous cases and he was ordered to serve the balance of those sentences except for 681 days of which he was given jail credit. His new four year term will run consecutively with his probation revocation time.
Ashley Saylors received a four year sentence suspended with credit for time served. She was fined $2,000. Saylors was given jail credit for 252 days served.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Tuesday, October 14, 2014 after receiving an anonymous tip of a possible meth lab, a deputy went to the Saylors’ home to do a probation visit of Michael Saylors. Upon receiving consent to search the home, the officer found a meth lab. Two 11 year old children living in the home were also present. Inside a wooden trunk, the deputy discovered a gallon of muriatic acid, lighter fluid, two cans of crystal Drano, a can of drain opener, four cold packs, lithium batteries, three loaded syringes, four empty syringes, fifty coffee filters, six feet of plastic tubing, five funnels, and a plastic bag containing lye. The deputy also found a marijuana grinder, rubbing alcohol, digital scales, Iodine, and aluminum foil. The officer spoke with Ashley Saylors who admitted that she knew these components used to make meth were in the house. Due to the strong chemical odor, the home was quarantined and everyone inside the residence was directed to step outside. Investigators were forced to use purifying respirators to keep from inhaling the harmful chemicals. The children were taken to the emergency room of the hospital for evaluation and their clothes were removed and placed in quarantine. Their home was also placed under quarantine until the homeowner had it properly cleaned.
In a separate case, 21 year old Nichole Breann Higgins, originally charged with initiation of a process to manufacture methamphetamine and aggravated child abuse, pled guilty to initiation of meth and received a ten year sentence, all suspended but for one year to serve. The term is to run consecutive to a Warren County case against her. She was given jail credit from October 12 to November 7, 2014.
Sheriff Ray said that on Wednesday, October 22, 2014 a sheriff’s department detective and deputies went to a residence on Young Green Road on a complaint of a possible meth lab. Upon arrival the officers spoke with the homeowner who gave consent for a search of the residence. They also spoke with Higgins and she gave permission for a search of her room in the home where several items were found used to manufacture meth. Higgins’ one month old son was also present . Found in Higgins’ room were a Mason jar containing bi-layered meth oil, Coleman fuel, Coleman fuel burner heads, two Coleman cylinders, acid, Pyrex glassware, coffee filters, lithium batteries, turkey Basters, aluminum foil balls, and a propane torch. These items were found next to the baby’s clothes, diapers, pacifier, and the bed where the baby slept. Higgins’ was arrested and the home was placed under quarantine.
The homeowner was held responsible for having the residence properly cleaned.
32 year old Christopher Sam White pled guilty to initiation of a process to manufacture methamphetamine and is facing a nine year sentence but he will be furloughed to a treatment facility. If he completes the program, White will be placed on probation. He was fined $2,000 and must make restitution of $35 to Walmart.
Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, November 7, 2014 a sheriff’s department deputy received a call from a resident on Jefferson Road that two men had been seen in a barn and that an odd smell was coming from there. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with a woman, apparently the owner of the barn, who said she had seen the two men and that the odor coming from the barn was making her sick. The officer asked for and received permission to search the barn and there he found White and another man sleeping. He also found a meth lab consisting of five plastic funnels, a Coleman cook top stove, Coleman butane fuel, digital scales, Coleman fuel, plastic tubing, a Pyrex dish, large Mason jar, 50 coffee filters, Crystal Drano, lithium batteries, ph test strips, and an electric pill grinder, a metal plate containing a white powdery substance, and a bottle containing four ounces of muriatic acid. The two men were awakened and placed under arrest. A computer check revealed White had been convicted in a separate meth case earlier that year.
44 year old Timothy Wade Ford pled guilty to attempted initiation to manufacture meth and received a five year sentence to serve. The term is to run consecutively with another case against him. He was given jail credit from October 31, 2013 to June 23, 2015.
Sheriff Ray said that on Thursday, October 31, 2013 sheriff’s department detectives and deputies assisted Tennessee Department of Correction probation officers in a search of Ford’s residence in Alexandria. During the search, probation officers found several pills and white powder inside the home. A drug detective spoke with Ford and received consent to search an outbuilding where meth components were kept, according to Ford.
A search revealed two Mason jars containing Coleman fuel, rubber tubing with a bottle cap on the end, Gatorade bottles, empty Sudafed blister packs, muriatic acid, empty ice compressed boxes, cut strips from lithium batteries, and baggies containing fifteen aluminum foil balls. Sheriff Ray said Ford admitted that these components were used for the manufacture of methamphetamine. Ford was arrested and brought to the jail for booking.
Archived News & Obituaries