By NATASHA BRENNEMAN
Staff Writer
Four people have been charged following a prolonged investigation into an alleged methamphetamine lab in Clarion.
Tearia Bailey, 27, of Clarion, Angel Warner, 24, of Venus, Deana Wright, 48, of Clarion, and Conner Griffith, 22, of Knox are all facing felony charges in the case.
The charges stem from an incident on April 14, 2015, when a search warrant was executed at the residence of Teddy K. Wensel at 75 North 4th Avenue in Clarion, according to a criminal complaint filed through district judge Timothy Schill’s office.
Acting Clarion Borough police chief William Peck located Wensel and an adult woman in an upstairs bedroom with tubing attached to a bottle cap, several lithium batteries and a spoon with white residue, the complaint said.
Police said all the items are consistent with the process of making methamphetamine.
As a result, Wensel was charged with felony counts of conspiracy – manufacture, deliver or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, manufacturing methamphetamine with a child present, manufacture, deliver or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, possession of red phosphorus, operating a meth lab and deposit/store/dispose chemical waste.
Peck later interviewed Wensel, who allegedly admitted he had manufactured methamphetamine and discarded the items along the roads in Piney Township.
Wensel identified Bailey, Warner, Wright and Griffith as others who played a role in the operation, the complaint said.
Wensel said Bailey purchased three or four boxes of Sudafed for him to cook meth, and an investigation conducted by Clarion Borough police found Bailey did purchase the drug twice between January and March of 2015, the complaint said.
Warner was also accused by Wensel of purchasing Sudafed and selling the drugs to help pay bills for Warner’s mother, according to the complaint.
Wright would allow Wensel to cook methamphetamine at her trailer on Oakwood Trailer Court and he caused a fire at the trailer in one instance, burning the carpet in the bedroom of the trailer, the complaint said.
Wensel told Peck that Wright would assist him during the cooking and cleaning process of making the drugs, the complaint said.
The complaint also states that Wright purchased two boxes of Sudafed per month between November 2014 and April 2015 for Wensel.
Griffith purchased Sudafed in exchange for meth and would give Wensel money to purchase supplies, the complaint said.
Warner has been charged with felony counts of conspiracy – manufacture, deliver or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver and possession of red phosphorus, as well as a misdemeanor count of knowingly possessing ephedrine.
Bailey is facing two felony counts of conspiracy – manufacture, deliver or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, two felony counts of possessing red phosphorus and two misdemeanor counts of knowingly possessing ephedrine.
Wright has been charged with nine felony counts of conspiracy – manufacture, deliver or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, nine felony counts of possession of red phosphorus and nine misdemeanor counts of knowingly possessing ephedrine.
Griffith is facing three felony counts of manufacture, possession or delivery with intent to manufacture or deliver, three felony counts of possessing of red phosphorus and three misdemeanor counts of knowingly possessing ephedrine.
All four were arraigned Friday and placed in the Clarion County jail on $25,000 bail.
On Monday, Warner’s bail was modified to unsecured, and Wright and Griffith posted bail.
Bailey remains in the Clarion County jail.
All four have been tentatively scheduled to have preliminary hearings in the case on Feb. 14.
Police said their investigation into the incident is continuing and that more arrests are coming.