By Drew Moody
For the Hur Herald
drewmoody@verizon.net
Professing her innocence even as she entered a guilty plea, Lora
A. Wine said she was not involved in a 'meth' ring busted by police
almost a year ago.
"I was just there that day," Wine told the judge. The 22-year-old
woman is the mother of three young children.
Minutes later her defense attorney told the court he believed if the case
had gone to trial the prosecution would have been able to prove she was
at the residence where the 'meth' was being cooked two days in a row,
prior to her arrest.
Wine, drove a car full of caustic materials to the home where she was
arrested in August of last year. Her children and husband were passengers
in the car.
Husband David Carl Wine admitted he was addicted to 'meth' during his plea
hearing earlier this month.
"I didn't know anything about it," Wine tearfully told Judge Alsop.
Wine told the court she thought there was just a (rug) shampooer in the trunk
of the vehicle.
Yet, on the day of Wine's arrest, Tammy Junkins called police back to her
home because of the stench coming from the truck of the car.
Wine told the court she believes if she fought the case in court a jury
would find her guilty. She fears she'd likely face a stiffer penalty if
she went to trial and lost.
Judge Alsop questioned the defendant at length regarding her decision,
prior to accepting her plea to one count of attempting to manufacture
a controlled substance.
Wine stated she is not addicted to drugs or alcohol, and for at
least the past 60-days hasn't taken any.
A pre-sentence investigation (PSI) will be prepared by the
probation officer. Wines was ordered to submit to a urine test prior to being
released on bond. She was told to remain drug and alcohol free, and
could be tested again at any time. Should Wine violate any part of the
release her bond may be revoked.
Sentencing is scheduled for August 14.
The Bust - August 7, 2005
State Police got an anonymous tip that Wine's husband and David Phares
were cooking methamphetamines on Fink Road in rural Gilmer County.
Phares is now serving 2 to 10 years in connection with a separate drug-related offense.
At least five police officers were involved in the drug bust, according to arrest reports.
Police contacted the homeowner, Tammy Junkins, at work and obtained permission to
search the property.
Typical 'Meth' cooking tools
Timothy Grey Rose answered the knock at the door. When police asked about the
presence of a drug lab, he said he didn't have one but offered officers a marijuana
plant instead.
Rose turned to gesture toward the plant he thought was nearby on a table. But someone
had apparently moved it quickly - leaving a trail of pot leaves leading downstairs to a fireplace.
Sgt. Alton searched Rose before entering the home, confiscating a container containing
white powder and razor blades.
Police then caught Wine and his wife, Lora, sneaking out the back door of the residence
with two young children. A loaded derringer was discovered in Wine's pocket.
Also taken into custody at the scene were Kenneth Scott Kayser and David Charles
Phares II. No charges were leveled against Tammy Junkins, who left work and arrived
at the residence after the initial search of her property.
The Evidence
Police found evidence of a 'meth' lab operation in various locations on the property. This
included: empty Sudafed boxes, disassembled parts of a portable drug lab, gas masks,
syringes and spoons (apparently for intravenous drug injection), hydrochloric acid, Coleman
fuel, red phosphorus, a hot plate, glassware, tubing, coffee filters, and Morton rock salt.
Several containers were laying around with a white powder substance in them. Duffel bags
containing lab parts were hidden behind a shed on the property, and police found toxic
chemicals in the trunk of a car.
Junkins told police she didn't know about the drug lab in her garage, but said she did see Wine
and Phares smoke 'meth' outside her home.
Rose told police Phares and Wine had cooked 'meth' in the garage several times, court
records indicate. He also indicated he was only assisting in the clean-up of the premises,
after the cooking was completed.
All charges leveled against Rose were eventually dismissed.
Kayser was arrested, but thus far has not been indicted.
Phares eventually entered a guilty plea in this case and was given a sentence of
five years probation which will begin when he's released from prison.
The Case Against Wine - More than Just Drugs
Both Judge Alsop and prosecutor suggested the criminal case against Wine
was circumstantial.
However, there was nothing circumstantial about two of Wine's three children being
at the scene of the drug bust. When police arrived Wine and her husband, David,
attempted to flee the property. He was carrying a loaded pistol.
Police found a "rig" used to shoot drugs intravenously in the residence on the property.
HIV can live a long time in a used "rig," (needle) according to the Seattle department of Public
Health. Hepatitis B and Hep C can live even longer - for weeks or months. Inadvertent
needle pricks can transmit hepatitis more easily than HIV.
The prosecutor's office did contact Ritchie County authorities concerning Wine
having her children in the car. "It's absolutely not protecting your children," Hough
said.
The car she drove to the Junkins residence had a trunk-full of highly volatile
materials.
Hough said Wine consistently maintained her innocence throughout the criminal
proceedings.
What are the signs that a child is being exposed to 'meth' lab chemicals?
Teachers, day care staff, and other individuals who work with or care for children
exposed to chemicals associated with 'meth' labs may observe a variety of
symptoms, including:
Watery eyes
Discharge from the eyes
Blurred vision
Eye pain, including burning
Skin irritation and redness
Mild to severe burns on the skin
Sneezing and coughing
Difficult and labored breathing, shortness of breath
Congestion of the voice box
Chest pain
Nausea and vomiting
Abdominal pain
Diarrhea
Moderate to severe headache
Rapid heart rate
Dark colored urine
Fever
Decrease in mental status
Yellow jaundice
Hallucinations
Extreme irritability
Severe neglect
Impact of 'meth' labs on children
⢠Studies indicate a large percentage of child abuse and neglect
cases involve 'meth'
⢠30-35% of meth labs seized are residences with children
⢠33% of children found at meth labs tested positive for meth
between 2000 and 2002
⢠Prenatal exposure to meth causes infants to be six times more likely
to be born with birth defects such as spina bifida, club foot, intestinal
abnormalities, and skeletal abnormalities
⢠Meth cookers often have guns, weapons and booby-traps to protect
their drugs and labs, posing a serious safety risk for children
⢠Children found in meth labs often suffer from developmental delays
and are likely to have been abused and/or neglected
⢠Children of meth users and cooks become society's responsibility
and cost WV taxpayers millions of dollars for special services, including
foster care and specialized health care
According to the National Drug Intelligence Digest, Independent traffickers
manufacturing methamphetamine in clandestine home labs may expose
children to abuse, injury and death from hazardous chemicals and laboratory
explosions. Medical authorities report the toxic chemicals used to manufacture
methamphetamine can cause burns and harm the brain, liver, kidneys, lungs
and eyes. Children exposed to these toxins can exhibit aggression, violence,
paranoia and hallucinations. They may also develop learning disabilities and
behavioral problems.
How do I recognize a Methamphetamine lab?
Many people may be unaware that they're living near a meth lab. Here are
some things to look for:
⢠Unusual, strong odors (like cat urine, ether, ammonia, acetone or other chemicals).
⢠Residences with windows blacked out.
⢠Open windows vented with fans during the winter.
⢠Renters who pay their landlords in cash. (Most drug dealers trade exclusively in cash.)
⢠Lots of traffic - people coming and going at unusual times. There may be little traffic
during the day, but at night the activity increases dramatically.
⢠Excessive trash including large amounts of items such as: antifreeze containers,
lantern fuel cans, engine starting fluid cans, HEET cans, lithium batteries and empty
battery packages, wrappers, red chemically stained coffee filters, drain cleaner and
duct tape.
⢠Unusual amounts of clear glass containers being brought into the home.
Anyone who believes they may have knowledge of 'meth' labs or other illegal
drug activity may contact area law enforcement officials to make an anomyomous
tip.
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