Woman Pleads Guilty in Casper Mobile Meth Lab Case
A woman who was arrested after Casper police busted a rolling meth lab on CY Avenue in April entered a guilty plea Tuesday morning in Natrona County District Court.
Megan Marie Schwabel, 40, pleaded guilty to a single felony count of unlawful clandestine laboratory operations. The crime is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000.
Schwabel will likely avoid prison time as long as she completes a term of supervised probation. In exchange for her guilty plea, Assistant District Attorney Dan Itzen told the court that prosecutors had agreed to recommend Schwabel be sentenced to a suspended four- to six-year prison term with three years of supervised probation.
Also as part of the plea deal, Itzen moved to dismiss five other criminal charges which had been filed against Schwabel.
The vehicle allegedly contained methamphetamine, as well as equipment and supplies used to manufacture the drug. Due to the hazardous nature of those materials, a special response by the Casper Fire Department was required.
The westbound lane of CY Avenue was shut down for a period of time while the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation processed evidence. Federal resources from Denver were called to the scene to handle the collection of hazardous chemicals and other materials.
Also arrested in connection with the incident was 37-year-old Jason Hays. Hays in July entered a guilty plea to a single count of unlawfully operating a clandestine laboratory.
Hays entered the guilty plea as part of a plea deal which is substantially the same as the deal given to Schwabel.