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2 sought for questioning in Wilton meth lab

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By Melissa Regennitter | Thursday, May 15, 2008 1:32 PM CDT | () comments

WILTON, Iowa — Police were searching this morning for two Wilton residents wanted for questioning after the discovery of a methamphetamine lab.

Cheryl Lynn George, 28, of 204 Chestnut St., and Lee Montgomery Scarboro, 43, of 211 W. Rose St., were brought to the Wilton Police Department on Wednesday for questioning after a meth lab was found earlier in the day at George’s residence.

During the interview, George and Scarboro, who had not been arrested, were allowed to go get cigarettes and did not return, Muscatine County Attorney Gary Allison said.

The Muscatine County Drug Task Force was at George’s home into the night processing evidence and waiting for a disposal team to remove hazardous materials.

Neighbors stood on their lawns talking and watching as cars drove by and dozens of children played in neighboring yards. Residents said the investigation had been going on since before noon Wednesday.

The pair has been arrested in the past on meth-related charges.

George and Scarboro were arrested on Aug. 17, 2007, after a meth bust at his home found them in possession of more than five grams of methamphetamine that they had manufactured using the red phosphorus method, according to complaints.

The red phosphorus method involves extracting the ephedrine or pseudoephedrine from common medications and using red phosphorus from strike plates of match books or from flares to speed up the reaction process. Red phosphorus may produce an extremely poisonous and flammable phosphine gas. It is highly toxic and may be fatal if inhaled or absorbed.

Officials also found numerous items consistent with manufacturing methamphetamine in 2007. They were both charged with felony manufacturing methamphetamine, according to documents filed at the Muscatine County Courthouse.

Scarboro and George were also charged with two felony counts of delivering methamphetamine to confidential informants with the Muscatine County Drug Task Force.

Scarboro made a plea agreement and fines and 20-year prison term were suspended. One count of controlled substance violation was dismissed. He was sentenced to five years probation.

George’s sentence for one controlled substance violation was deferred and the two other controlled substance counts were dismissed. She was sentenced to four years supervised probation and attorney fees and fines totaling $1,000.

Melissa Regennitter can be contacted at (563) 262-0526 or mregennitter@muscatinejournal.com.