Charles W. Lynch, 36, pleaded not guilty to manufacturing methamphetamine.
Lynch, 36, was arrested in November 2007 after a Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputy caught him with the items used to manufacture meth in his car.
The deputy, cruising an isolated area near the North Platte River, stopped and made contact with Lynch. The deputy noticed a strong smell of ether in the car – a chemical normally used to manufacture meth. The deputy also noticed plastic tubing on the front seat of Lynch’s car and liquid anhydrous ammonia spilling out of the pickup box.
The deputy, becoming suspicious, ordered Lynch out of the car and continued the search. He then discovered two Energizer AA Lithium batteries on the ground behind the pickup. The deputy also discovered a bottle which had contained liquid anhydrous ammonia, another bottle which contained white gas and less than one ounce of marijuana.
Lithium, white gas, anhydrous ammonia, ether and plastic tubing, in combination, are used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. The deputy’s suspicion’s deepened.
The deputy then called the North Platte Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration to assist with the investigation.
He also called a cleanup and a hazardous materials team in from Lincoln. The estimate on the cleanup operation was between $4,000.00 and $6,000.00.
Lynch will face trial on the charges March 18.
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