MDEA Responds 14th Meth Lab This Year
The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency says a Cornish man was arrested yesterday after a meth lab was discovered inside his home.
The lab was discovered by State Probation officers while conducting a probation check of James Wildes, 31 of Cornish. The MDEA meth lab team along with MDEA York Task Force agents responded to Wildes’ mobile home at 19 Kimball Hill Road, following the discovery. The residence was secured by the State Police and York County Sheriff’s Office while the meth team was responding.
Found inside the mobile home were the ingredients and equipment used in manufacturing methamphetamine including an active “one pot” lab. Evidence of earlier manufacturing was discovered along with a small amount of methamphetamine, said authorities.
Wildes is on probation for a 2010 pharmacy robbery and was arrested by probation officers and charged with violating his probation. He was taken to the York County Jail. MDEA agents will submit charges of Unlawful Operation of a Methamphetamine Laboratory after consulting with the Attorney General’s Office. Associates of Wildes will also be charged for assisting him in obtaining Pseudoephedrine, an essential ingredient for manufacturing meth, said authorities.
The Department of Environmental Protection assisted lab team members by securing the toxic byproducts of the laboratory for disposal.
Last month in Limington, Wildes’ brother – 32 year old Joseph Wildes – and two other men were charged with operating a meth lab inside their home at 24 South Road.
Yesterday’s arrest was the 14th methamphetamine related response by MDEA this year.