Two arrested after theft investigation leads Clay County police to meth lab

While investigating a misdemeanor theft case at a Clay County motel, police ended up finding an active methamphetamine lab. That will mean serious felony charges for the two men involved, according to a report in the Florida Times-Union. When police stopped the first man on the theft charge, they say they found methamphetamines on him, the newspaper reported. When police learned he was staying at the motel, they then found a second man and an active meth lab in the room, the newspaper reported.

The first man was charged with two misdemeanor counts – the initial theft charge police were investigating and a marijuana possession charge – and a felony possession of a controlled substance charge for the methamphetamines. The felony is a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in state prison. The second man in this Clay County Drug Crimes Case was charged with manufacturing methamphetamines and possession of methamphetamines with intent to sell. Each of those charges is a second-degree felony with a maximum penalty of 15 years in state prison.

Charges and potential sentences in Clay County Drug Cases are based primarily on two main factors: the type of drug the person is a accused of possessing, and the amount of said drug. The difference is clear in the charges against the first man in this Clay County Drug Crimes Case. Police find marijuana and meth on him when they go to talk to him about the theft. He is facing no more than a year in the county jail for the marijuana charge, but up to five years for having methamphetamines. For the second man in this Clay County Drug Crimes Case, he likely had a larger amount of the drug, but not enough to constitute drug trafficking. Drug trafficking charges are based solely on the amount of the drug a person is accused of having – not on the physical selling of narcotics. Trafficking thresholds start low in Clay County Drug Crimes Cases involving methamphetamines and trafficking charges are first-degree felonies with maximum penalties of 30 years in prison a minimum mandatory sentences kicking in with as little as 14 grams of the drug.

Our Clay County Drug Crimes Attorney represents people on all types of drug charges – from misdemeanor marijuana possession on up to trafficking in and manufacturing methamphetamines. Our Clay County Criminal Defense Attorney will thoroughly investigate the case against you or your loved one and provide you with the information to make the best decision going forward.

If you or a loved one needs a criminal defense attorney in Jacksonville or the surrounding area, call The Mussallem Law Firm at (904) 365-5200 for a FREE CONSULTATION. Our Clay County Drug Crimes Attorney, Victoria “Tori” Mussallem, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.