Meth ingredients scrutinized in proposed bill

Staff Reports

Local law enforcement officials have arrested two men for methamphetamine-related offenses in the last week.

Parker County Sheriff Larry Fowler hopes proposed legislation will be enacted to reduce even that number.

He added a new bill is being introduced to legislators to modify the current law implemented in 2006. The new bill, the “Combat Meth Enhancement Act of 2009,” is designed to further regulate common ingredients used in manufacturing meth.

The law currently requires legal medications to be kept behind counters in retail drug outlets and a regulated sale is to be imposed on its purchase in large doses.

The sheriff said he has seen a steady decline in the meth traffic in the area since the 2006 bill was introduced, but meth still has an impact on today’s youth as well as adults from being smuggled into the country in mass quantities.

“This new Bill will have a greater impact on the meth cases we see locally,” Fowler said. “I look forward to seeing it placed in action to safeguard our community.”

Fowler reported the first meth arrest occurred at a local grocery store April 8, when an undercover Special Crimes Unit officer was investigating a unrelated case and noticed a man purchasing pseudoephedrine from the pharmacy.

The officer said the suspect visited three local pharmacies where he and another undercover officer witnessed the suspect buying the drug at each location.

During a search of the suspect and his vehicle, the SCU investigator discovered paraphernalia typically used in the manufacturing of meth and arrested Richard Matthew Payne, 26, of Springtown.

Once in custody, Payne implicated himself admitting visiting four pharmacies that day and purchasing pseudoephedrine from each location. He said he did not know who was planning to manufacture the meth.

Payne was transported to the Parker County Jail and charged with possession of certain chemicals with intent to manufacture a controlled substance.

In a separate incident April 13, SCU investigators arrested Ronald Lawrence Schlegel, 36, for charges including possessing drugs.

According to sheriff’s reports, deputies arrived at a hotel in Willow Park to serve Schlegel a warrant for misdemeanor traffic violations.

Upon his arrest, SCU members discovered the suspect had 4.2 grams of meth in his vehicle and 1.5 grams of ecstasy on his person. In addition, deputies found a hunting rifle with ammunition in Schlegels’ hotel room.

Schlegel was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a controlled substance over one gram and possession of a controlled substance over four grams along with the traffic violations.

Proposed legislation would ideally not only have stopped Payne from purchasing psuedoephedrine in large enough quantities to manufacture meth, but retailers would be more aware of their customers’ uses for the drug.

The new bill proposes that all retailers of pseudoephedrine be trained and certified in the handling and sale of the drug in accordance with the law. The bill would also require distributors to sell only to retailers who have filed self-certifications with the Drug Enforcement Agency.

Fowler said the bill will help, but stricter control of Texas’ border with Mexico is also needed.

“While we still find occasional cases relating to a methamphetamine labs in Parker County, they are small.” Fowler said. “The majority of the super labs operate and come from Mexico. Crystal meth manufacturers from Mexico are flooding the country.”

“I’ve spoken with both (Rep.) Phil King and (Sen.) John Cornyn about the problem,” Fowler said. “We can’t begin to combat the meth, heroin and cocaine traffic until we get control of and secure our southern border.”