Pubdate: Fri, 07 Apr 2006
Source: Herald Democrat (TX)
Copyright: 2006 Herald Democrat
Contact:  http://www.herald-democrat.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2710
Author: Jerrie Whiteley, Herald Democrat
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

WHITESBORO MAN GETS 99-YEAR SENTENCE

Manufacturing methamphetamine earned a Whitesboro man a room in the Texas 
Department of Corrections for up to 99 years this week.

Brent Carney, 39, received his sentence Wednesday after a jury convicted 
him of possession of methamphetamine and possession of certain chemicals 
with intent to manufacture methamphetamine. He was also sentenced to pay a 
$10,000 fine on each charge.

"It is good to see a jury say, 'We have had enough of methamphetamine,'" in 
Grayson County, said District Attorney Joe Brown. "I hope every meth cook, 
drug dealer, and drug user in this county sees that verdict. The public is 
sick of methamphetamine. This is the longest sentence we have seen on a 
drug case."

Brown said Carney's case began on April 25, when Whitesboro Police Lt. 
Scott Taylor and Officer Jason Withrow smelled an odor the believed to be a 
chemical involved in the manufacture of methamphetamine while driving 
through a Whitesboro neighborhood.

"The high concentration of the fumes caused the officers to have concern of 
a danger to the public from ingestion of the fumes or a risk of explosion. 
The odor was traced to an outside workshop in the backyard of 607 Carver 
Street. While standing outside, the officers could see through the opened 
doorway components of a methamphetamine laboratory," Brown said in a press 
release.

He said officers met Carney and Krisney Lemons at the rear door of the 
residence, and another man, Bobby Neal, inside the residence. All of them 
denied knowing the source of the odor, and denied making methamphetamine. 
The officers got a search warrant for the house and located a cellar in 
which chemicals had been dumped and mixed with runoff rainwater. They found 
two one-gallon jars with liquids that tested positive for methamphetamine.

Officers called Grayson County Environmental Officer Jim White to the scene 
and he supervised the disposal of the chemicals. In the trial, White 
testified that the chemicals in the cellar were a dangerous mixture that 
created a high risk of explosion.

Assistant Grayson County District Attorney Joel Durrett prosecuted the 
case. He enhanced the charge against Carney by alleging that Carney had 
previously been convicted of a felony offense of burglary of habitation and 
had served a prison term on that charge.

Carney faced a minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 99 years. 
Sherman attorney Rick Dunn represented Carney at trial. He said even though 
his client was offered a plea deal for 15 years, Carney continued to 
proclaim his innocence and decided to exercise his constitutional right to 
a trial.

"He didn't deny that he was there, but he said he didn't know anything 
about the drugs being there," Dunn explained. He said he will be filing a 
motion for a new trial in the next 30 days and Carney has expressed an 
interest in filing an appeal.

The case was tried in the 336th state District Court with Judge Lauri Blake 
presiding.
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