Yet Another Meth Lab Defendant Pleads Guilty

The number of people operating or conspiring to operate methamphetamine (meth) labs in Webster County continues to grow, and so do the arrests and guilty pleas.

Connie J. Hosey

On Tuesday, before Webster County Circuit Court Judge Jack Alsop, Connie J. Hosey, age 38, of Mills Mountain Road near Cowen, pleaded guilty to the felony crime of Conspiracy to Operate or Attempt to Operate a Clandestine Drug Lab. In exchange for her guilty plea to the Conspiracy charge, the State dropped the related felony charge of Operating or Attempting to Operate a Clandestine Drug  Lab. As part of the plea agreement reached between Hosey and the State, Hosey agreed to give to law enforcement a statement about other individuals involved in the conspiracy and operation of the meth lab, and to testify in Court if required. 

Hosey has been incarcerated since her arrest on September 16, 2012. She had not yet been indicted by a Grand Jury, but waived presentation of her case to a Grand Jury, and agreed to plead guilty in Circuit Court. After her plea hearing, Hosey was sent back to jail pending a pre-sentence report by the Court's probation office and pending the sentencing hearing. 

According to the original criminal complaint filed against Hosey, police went to 792 Mills Mountain Road in Webster County on September 15, 2012 to investigate a report of possible stolen property. Officers secured consent from Hosey to search the residence and they discovered several items related to a possible meth lab, including dismantled cold packs, coffee filters with white residue, dismantled lithium batteries, and pipes. Officers also noted a strong chemical smell coming from the rear of the home. 

Mark Wayne Linkous (left) and Brier Jon Cutlip have also
been charged with Conspiracy and Operating or Attempting
to Operate a Meth Lab, but both are awaiting trial.

About 25 feet behind the rear door of the house, one officer found a green two liter pop bottle with a white substance and what appeared to be lithium battery strips. Mark Wayne Linkous and Brier Jon Cutlip were also present and were directly associated with the active meth lab. Hosey gave a statement to the officers that she had made a deal with Linkous that she would allow him to cook meth at her house in exchange for a portion of the finished product. Hosey also said that Linkous and Cutlip had exited the rear of her house about 20 minutes before the officers arrived, with the intent to cook meth.

Linkous and Cutlip have also been charged with similar crimes in this matter and are awaiting trial. Both Linkous and Cutlip have also been incarcerated at the Central Regional Jail since September 16, 2012.