Second defendant pleads guilty in Daniel Boone Forest meth conspiracy

The second of four people accused of conspiring to manufacture methamphetamine in Daniel Boone National Forest is scheduled to plead guilty Thursday in federal court.

William Wells, 21, of Woodbine, is set to appear before Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove at 3:30 p.m. for the rearraignment hearing.

Wells will join co-defendant Joshua Caldwell, who pleaded guilty in December to conspiracy to manufacture 50 or more grams of methamphetamine.

Wells faces five to 40 years in prison and a fine of up to $5 million.

The remaining defendants, Shanda Caldwell and William Marcum, are scheduled to go to trial on May 13.

The case began on July 25, 2011 when U.S. Forest Service Special Agent Robert S. O’Neill interviewed Blake Crawford in reference to pseudoephedrine purchases. Crawford admitted that he was taking the pseudoephedrine to Josh Caldwell on Cumberland Falls Road and selling them for $50 per box. In addition, Crawford told O’Neill that he was providing Caldwell with coffee filters, lithium batteries and starting fluid, all of which are used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

"Crawford stated that he observed Caldwell manufacturing methamphetamine at the residence on Cumberland Falls Road,” O’Neill stated.

O’Neill, along with Kentucky State Police and Whitley County Sheriff’s deputies went to the residence on Ky. 90 after O’Neill reportedly received information that meth was currently being manufactured there.

O’Neill reported that officers could smell the distinct odor of an active meth lab when they stepped up on the porch of the residence.

After receiving no answer but hearing people inside, O’Neill stated that officers made entry and confronted Shanda Caldwell about the odor.

Officers conducted a security sweep and found four other individuals: Josh Caldwell, Marcum, Wells and a juvenile.

Shanda Caldwell stated she owned the property and denied officers consent to search without a warrant.

A warrant was secured and O’Neill reported finding an active methamphetamine laboratory on the kitchen counter and an HCL generator in a plastic bag, which was hanging on a kitchen cabinet. In addition, officers found several baggies of finished meth in a canister hidden under a couch cushion.

Caldwell, Shanda Caldwell and William Keith Marcum were originally indicted on Sept. 13, 2012.

A superseding indictment returned on April 25, also named Wells as a defendant. That indictment alleges that the defendants conspired to manufacture 50 or more grams of methamphetamine in Laurel and Whitley counties between Sept. 2009 and March 18, 2012.

Caldwell entered an open guilty plea, meaning there was no agreement with prosecutors in place prior to entering his plea.

He also faces a prison sentence of five to 40 years and a fine of up to $5 million when he is formally sentenced on April 24.