Published: May 01, 2009 10:08 am      

Remote drug lab nabs couple

Concern over a Foster area couple’s two young children has now led to multiple criminal charges with most focused on a remote drug lab tucked out of the way.

Now on the legal hot seat are the husband and wife duo of John Patrick Webb and Crystel Webb, both 25 years old, after county deputies found a methamphetamine lab at their rural residence several miles west of Elmore City.

Both were handed high bonds Thursday despite arguments from prosecutors in the district attorney’s office in Pauls Valley against any bond at all.

County Deputy Zac Henderson said the case against John Webb actually got going some time ago.

It culminated with the couple’s arrest this week after Henderson was among the deputies who accompanied some state welfare officials checking on their two young children with the youngest about 6 months old.

What they first saw was described as a “junk yard” around a group of three trailers on the property. It included various items representing a serious safety hazard, Henderson said.

As the welfare officials checked out the Webbs’ residential trailer, Henderson said John Webb gave permission to search another one in the vicinity.

First seen there in plain sight by the deputies was a double barrel “sawed-off” shotgun, which was among the three weapons found with two loaded and ready to fire at that time.

That drew Webb one of six charges filed against him because of a previous felony conviction, which prevents him from possessing firearms.

Also found were several jars of two-layered liquid and other items and chemicals commonly used to make the illegal drug.

The deputy said Thursday any questions about Webb’s involvement with drug labs ended when he admitted to the act.

“Under miranda he gave me a full confession to everything,” Henderson said, referring to Webb’s legal rights being read to him.

When asked how often he “cooked” the illegal drug over the past year, Webb said “more than 50 but less than 50,000,” according to the deputy.

“He admitted at the time his only source of income is cooking dope. That’s how he supports his family, pays for groceries.”

Webb has been the target of a sheriff’s department investigation for some time because of ongoing information leading them to believe he was highly involved in drug manufacturing.

“This has been an ongoing investigation for 1 1/2 to two years. Every time we would get some good information we would just miss them,” Henderson said.

“It’s a good feeling when something you’ve been working on for so long finally works out.”

Both suspects received five charges related to drug trafficking and possession, along with a child endangerment count for each. An additional firearm charge was given to John Webb.

During a hearing Thursday afternoon Webb was handed a $100,000 bond with conditions, while his wife was given a $50,000 bond.

Henderson said he and prosecutors here requested no bond for either suspect because the couple was considered either a flight risk or a threat to continue their illegal drug activity if released from jail.