The Franklin Sun Journal has reported that a man that was indicted a year ago for arson, aggravated trafficking and child endangerment, when his home meth lab broke out into a fire and put his own child in jeopardy, has pleaded guilty.
According to court records D.C., 29, of Kingfield, had been manufacturing methamphetamine in his mobile home located at 8 Winter Road prior to the fire.
D.C. had a plea agreement that allowed for the dismissal of the arson charge and the addition of an aggravated criminal mischief charge.
In Franklin County Superior Court D.C. entered his guilty plea to aggravated trafficking of scheduled drugs, aggravated criminal mischief and endangering the welfare of a child.
If found guilty on the drug trafficking charge alone D.C. could face up to a 30-year prison sentence. His sentencing is set for the morning of November 29 in Franklin County Court.
There are two possible sentencing scenarios being considered. In one D.C would be jailed eight to 12 years followed by a four-year probation. In the other D.C. would serve six to 10 years with the same amount of probation.
D.C., along with two other men, were indicted for the meth lab's explosion and ensuing fire that occurred on February 8, 2012. According to drug agents, D.C.'s young child was in the home when the fire erupted.
A court affidavit said that state fire investigators believe that the fire was arson. Both the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Office of the Maine Fire Marshal had representatives look over the mobile home on March 12. A state investigator, and a demolition crew hired to clean the area, noted remnants of the home meth lab.
The agencies found white granular substances and crystalline substances that coated the inside of a bowl and tubing. Both materials are indicative of the cooking operation employed in home meth labs according to the affidavit.
D.C. admitted to investigators that the three men in the trailer had planned to make the meth there and to use it. The night before the fire, according to Agent B.R., D.C. said that the three men had been "strung out" from making and using the meth.
While in the living room with his girlfriend, according to B.R., D.C. heard someone call out, "fire, fire" from the bathroom/bedroom area. He saw a small fire and got some baking soda to pour on it and put it out.
Then, the other two men on the home, S.H., 26, and J.B., 25, began making a second "one-pot batch" in the kitchen. This time D.C. overheard a loud explosion, emanating from the kitchen, and saw that it was now on fire. He failed to extinguish the second fire.
D.C. then took his child, who had been asleep in the next room, ran outdoors, got into his car and drove away.
D.C.'s girlfriend was not arrested.
No matter what criminal charges you face contact a criminal defense attorney for help in court and with any plea deals.
