POSTED 3-29-2010
SMITHWICK — Two men remained behind bars Monday following a raid on a suspected methamphetamine lab in the 7900 block of RR 1431.
A pair of small children were removed from the residence where deputies say the men had kept precursor chemicals to make the drug, Burnet County sheriff's Capt. Dwight Hardin said.
"They (the children) looked to be between 2 to 3 years old," Hardin said, adding they are related to the men. "Unfortunately, we find these types of situations more often than not."
The arrests occurred March 26, deputies said. The children are now with other family members.
Finding children in meth labs is a relatively common occurrence during raids, Hardin added.
"The chemicals in the manufacturing process, they're not good for anyone, much less a child," he said. "You're talking about toxic gasses that are emitted, and some of the chemicals are caustic. It's not a good environment for anyone."
Kirby Mac Whitaker, 38, and Nelson Ray Guthrie, 40, both of Burnet County, have been charged with manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance and child endangerment, according to a press release from Sheriff W.T. Smith.
Guthrie also is wanted in connection with parole violations, the release said.
Both are being held in lieu of posting $265,000 bond apiece, officials said.
Officers from the Sheriff's Office, the Special Operations Unit, the Marble Falls Police Department, the Department of Public Safety and the Heart of Texas Auto Theft Task Force conducted the raid, Smith said.
Hardin said investigators discovered the suspected meth lab after one of the two men moved to Burnet County.
"We have worked in the past on (one of the men), who usually resides in Kingsland," Hardin said. "We were not aware he had moved to Burnet County."
Hardin said deputies were able to locate and shut down the operation within days.
The house where the arrests took place was located in a sparsely occupied area, he added.
"There were maybe two or three houses nearby, but none were close," Hardin said.
Inside the house, Hardin said officers found meth precursor chemicals.
"We had enough of the chemicals present and enough of the process had been started to file delivery charges against them," he said.
Manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance is a second-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine not to exceed $10,000. Child endangerment is a state-fail felony punishable by up to two years in state jail and a fine not to exceed $10,000.
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