Tulsa may have a reputation as the "meth capital of the world,"but just a 30 minute drive away to Coweta, Oklahoma, you can find a woman doing her part to move the meth capital--to her own home.
Earlier this month, Wagoner County Sheriff's deputies and Coweta police obtained a search warrant for the home of Apryl Jeske, 54, after they wereinformed that illegal drugs were being manufactured and maintained inside the home.
Law enforcement officers serving the search warrant claim to have found 19 "shake and bake" meth labs inside the woman's home. Additionally, they reportedlyfound methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and a stolen motorcycle at the home.
The woman was booked into the Wagoner County jail on multiple felony complaints, including possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possessionof a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, manufacturing a controlled dangerous substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possessionof stolen property, and endeavoring to manufacture a controlled dangerous substance.
Oklahoma is tough on drug crimes, and while a first offense of marijuana possession is a misdemeanor, the possession of Schedule I and II drugs, includingmethamphetamine, is a felony even on the first offense. Simple meth possession is punishable by 2 to 10 years in prison on the first offense, and 4to 20 years in prison for a subsequent offense.
However, the penalties are much more serious for possession with intent to distribute, distribution of a controlled substance, and manufacturing meth.These drug crimes all carry a possible life sentence upon conviction. Meth manufacturing is punishable by 7 years to life in prison, even for afirst offense.
Since 2010, people convicted of meth-related crimes have been required to comply with the Oklahoma Methamphetamine Offender Registry Act:
"There is hereby created within the Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control a registry of persons who, after November 1,2010, have been convicted, whether upon a verdict or plea of guilty or upon a verdict or plea of nolo contendere, or received a suspended sentenceor any deferred or probationary term, or are currently serving a sentence or any form of probation or parole for a crime or attempt to commita crime including, but not limited to, unlawful possession, conspiring, endeavoring, manufacturing, distribution or trafficking of a precursor or methamphetamines . . . or any crime including, but not limited to, crimes involving the possession, distribution, manufacturing or trafficking of methamphetamines or illegal amounts of or uses of pseudoephedrinein any federal court, Indian tribal court, or any court of another state if the person is a resident of the State of Oklahoma or seeks to remainin the State of Oklahoma in excess of ten (10) days."
Any person subject to the registry who possesses any detectable amount of pseudoephedrineor other precursors to manufacturing meth is guilty of a felony punishable by 2 to 10 years in prison.
Read more about Oklahoma's meth laws and the Oklahoma Meth Offender Registry here.
