Second sentenced for meth lab in Mt. Leo

A second person has been sentenced in connection with a Mt. Leo methamphetamine lab raided by lawmen back in 2004.

The defendant, Billy W. Adams, 37, was sentenced to serve 180 days of an eight-year sentence with the balance of his term to be spent on supervised probation on community corrections. He will also be required to pay a $2,000 drug fine.

His sentence is the second issued in connection with the meth lab lawmen found at the Mt. Leo home of Jerry and Mary Pearsall in late 2004. Mary Pearsall, 51, entered a plea earlier this year to her part in the illegal operation and was given the same sentence as was given to Adams this week.

Jerry Pearsall, who has past convictions for meth trafficking and could face a longer sentence than his two alleged partners in crime, is set to face his trial before a jury Jan. 30.

The raid happened at the home located just off Beersheba Highway on Mt. Leo Street when lawmen responded to information meth was being produced inside the house. Officers found Mr. Pearsall inside a shed working on a motorcycle when they arrived.

During a subsequent conversation, Pearsall would not allow officers to search his home, prompting their heightened suspicions. It was at that point officers reported seeing items in his garbage can suggesting he had been disposing of meth byproducts.

A search warrant was then obtained with lawmen finding a meth lab inside an upstairs bathroom. Adams, who lived on the property with the Pearsalls, was taken into custody when he arrived home.