Four people arrested in September 2005 on charges of manufacturing methamphetamine and tampering with physical evidence have pled guilty in Grayson Circuit Court.

According to court records, on Friday, July 14, Laura D. Sadler, 41, of Elizabethtown; Timothy R. Riggs, 33, of Elizabethtown; Lena J. Fox, 32, of Cox's Creek, Ky., and Charles W. Bell, 40, of Upton, all entered guilty pleas to charges stemming from their September 2005 arrests.

Sadler pled guilty to facilitation to manufacture methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance in the 1st degree (meth), possession of drug paraphernalia and tampering with physical evidence.

As part of the plea deal, prosecutors recommended that Sadler be sentenced to five years in prison on the facilitation to manufacture meth charge, five years on the possession of a controlled substance charge, five years on the tampering charge and 12 months in jail on the drug paraphernalia possession charge, all to run concurrent for a total of five years.

Riggs pled guilty to manufacturing meth, possession of a controlled substance in the 1st degree (meth) and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Commonwealth prosecutors recommended that Riggs be sentenced to 10 years in prison on the manufacturing charge, five years on the possession of a controlled substance charge and 12 months in jail for possessing drug paraphernalia, all to run concurrent for a total of 10 years.

Fox pled guilty to facilitation to manufacture meth, possession of a controlled substance in the 1st degree (meth), possession of drug paraphernalia in the 2nd degree and tampering with physical evidence.

As part of her plea agreement, the prosecution recommended that she be sentenced to five years in prison on the facilitation to manufacture meth charge, two years on the possession of a controlled substance charge, one year on the possession of drug paraphernalia charge and one year for tampering with physical evidence, all to run concurrent for a total of five years.

As for Bell, he pled guilty to manufacturing meth, possession of a controlled substance in the 1st degree (meth) and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Prosecutors recommended that Bell serve 10 years in prison on the manufacturing meth charge, one year on the possession of a controlled substance charge and 12 months in jail on the possession of drug paraphernalia charge, all to run concurrent for a total of 10 years.

Also arrested in September of 2005 in connection with the case was Patrick M. Kelly, 38, of Cox's Creek, Ky.

In November 2005 Kelly was indicted by a Grand Jury on charges of manufacturing methamphetamine enhanced by the possession of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance in the 1st degree (meth) enhanced by the possession of a firearm, possession of drug paraphernalia enhanced by the possession of a firearm, tampering with physical evidence and persistent felony offender in the 1st degree.

Patrick Kelly's case remains pending before the court.

One other person, Mark Steven Kelly, 40, of Nina Lane, Clarkson, was also indicted for allegedly manufacturing meth, enhanced by the possession of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance in the 1st degree (meth) enhanced by the possession of a firearm, possession of drug paraphernalia enhanced by the possession of a firearm and tampering with physical evidence.

Final sentencing for Sadler, Riggs, Fox and Bell is set for August 1 in Grayson Circuit Court.

Case History:

The case began on September 3, 2005, when Kentucky State Police troopers reportedly discovered a “clandestine” meth lab on Nina Lane near Nolin Lake.

According to the KSP, troopers responded to the Nina Lane residence in an attempt to serve warrants on Patrick Kelly and to investigate a meth lab complaint at the same location.

Upon arrival, the KSP reported, troopers detected a strong odor of ether and heard noises that they “believed to be suspects destroying evidence inside the residence.”

Troopers then reportedly entered the residence to attempt to locate and arrest (Patrick) Kelly, stop the destruction of evidence and check the welfare of the residents.

After entering the home police reportedly found items used to manufacture meth and after obtaining a search warrant, arrested Sadler, Riggs, Fox, Bell and Patrick Kelly.