« on: August 24, 2004, 07:19:52 AM »
source Jury gives man 40 years for making meth
By Brian Knox
A Springtown man was sentenced to 40 years in jail on drug charges by a Wise County jury Wednesday.
Damon Chapman, 43, who lives on Luke Road in South Wise County, was found guilty of intent to manufacture methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine. He was sentenced to 40 years on the manufacturing charge and 20 years on the possession charge. The sentences will run concurrently.
Chapman will not be eligible for parole for 10 years.
In addition, the jury imposed a $125,000 fine for the manufacturing charge and a $10,000 fine for the possession charge.
Wise County Sheriff’s Deputy Chad Lanier testified Tuesday that officers discovered a working meth lab in a barn when they arrived at Chapman’s home around 3 a.m. Oct. 16 of last year to serve him with a felony arrest warrant for aggravated assault.
Lanier said that as officers walked around the home, they could hear items being poured into the sink and could hear someone flushing the toilet. He said he could also smell a strong chemical odor. About three minutes after officers knocked on the door, Chapman opened the door and was placed under arrest.
Officers also noticed that the items being flushed down the toilet were not making it very far.
“When they would flush, you could hear water hitting the ground,” Lanier said. “At the end of the pipe were 13 clear baggies, some opened and some still had meth inside.”
During the punishment phase of the trial, jurors learned that after Chapman had posted bond, he was arrested again June 30 on possession of chemicals with intent to manufacture a controlled substance.
Chapman faced punishment with a range of 15 to 99 years or life.
Stupid is as stupid does...
Logged
My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives.
Stay thirsty my friends.
