Deputies, marshals find meth lab

Whitley County Sheriff’s deputies discovered a meth lab late last Thursday evening when they accompanied federal law enforcement officials to apprehend a wanted man.

About 11:45 p.m., Deputies James Tabor and Joe Prewitt along with two federal marshals went to a residence on Highway 92E near Reese Creek and successfully apprehended Jerry White, 39, of Williamsburg.

According to federal court records, White was wanted for violating the conditions of his supervised release.

While at the residence, law enforcement encountered a strong chemical odor, and found components used in the manufacture of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia including needles in the residence, according to a sheriff’s department release.

A one-step meth lab was later found under a bed mattress, the release stated.

Kentucky State Police were called to cleanup the active meth lab.

White was lodged in the Laurel County Correctional Center as a federal prisoner.

Jamie Powers, 47, of Williamsburg, was lodged in the Whitley County Detention Center.

Both were charged with manufacturing methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. In addition, White was charged with tampering with physical evidence, according to the release.

During a hearing Friday in U.S. District Court in London, White was advised of his rights as well as the nature and circumstances of the alleged violations of his supervised release from a report dated Dec. 15, 2016, according to federal court records.

White waived his right to a preliminary hearing and a final hearing on revocation of supervised release was scheduled for Feb. 22.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Hanly Ingram ordered White held in custody pending the outcome of the Feb. 22 hearing.

On May 22, 2014, White received a 60-month prison sentence for conspiracy to manufacture 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, and he was ordered to be on five years of supervised release once his prison sentence was completed, according to federal court records.

White was apparently released from custody early and his supervised release commenced on July 8, 2016.

Federal probation officers alleged White violated the conditions of his release by failing to report as directed, failing to report a change of residence, failing to permit a probation officer to visit him at home or elsewhere, failure to participate in substance abuse treatment as directed and for commission of a crime, according to federal court records.

Powers pleaded not guilty to the methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia charges during his arraignment Monday afternoon in Whitley District Court.

Judge Cathy Prewitt set a $50,000 cash bond, appointed the public advocate’s office to represent Powers, and scheduled a Feb. 20 preliminary hearing in his case, according to Whitley District Court records.

Tabor is continuing the investigation.