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Show UINTAH BASIN STANDARD. April 18. 2000-- Page 9 Narcotics takes down 6th meth lab in a year On April 6. agent from Adult Probation end Parole along with local officer from the Uintah County SharifT Office and Vernal Police Department raeponded to a residence located in the Ashley area of Vernal, in an attempt to locate subject wanted for parole violations. As officers entered a trailer behind the residence, a functioning methamphetamins lab was discovered in the trailer. Officers noticed the chemical Aimes, observed the glassware and immediately evacuated the trailer. The Uintah Basin Narcotics Strike Force was called in for further investigation. A search warrant was obtained and the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) clandestine lab team was summoned to process the lab. As a result of the search warrant, several items were seised including glassware, chemicals, used ' in the lab and a large quantity of finished methamphetamine product In addition, cask, firearms and a small amount of explosives was seized. One anest was made at the scene of the lab and further arrests are pending. Arrested, was Wade S. Hall, 36, VernaL Hall waa booked by Uintah Basin Narcotics Strike Fores agents for manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession ofafirearm by arsstricted person, possession of drugparapher-nali-a and possession of alcohol by an interdicted person. Hall is currently - Iw 1 under supervision by APAP (Adult Probation and Panda) fora previous drugofTenae out oTDuchesne County. 0 oM In addition to the charges, a hold was placed on Hall by AJP&P. Hall was booked into the Uintah County On 0 V v jail-- Lead agents for the case are Detectives Shaun Abplanalp and Bob Taylor, who are assigned to the Uintah Basin Narcotics Strike Force out of the Uintah County Sheriffs Office and the Vernal Police Department respectively. Det Taylor is credited for initially recognizing the operating laba nd immediately securing this scene. The Strike Force was assisted by numerous agencies including the Vernal City Uintah County Fire Department After the lab was processed, the Health Department was called in to survey environmental hazard along with restrict entry into the lab site. The handling of this incident demonstrates the superb cooperative effort on behalf of all agencies involved with a case such as this, from beginning to end, said Sgt Cain Park, Strike force project director. The Uintah Basin Narcotics Strike Force is asking any persons with information with respect to methamphetamine labs or any other drug intelligence, to contact your local law enforcement agency, strike force agent or call the secret witness lines. Cash rewards Tri-Coun- ty Vernal duo charged with 1 9 sex crimes released on bail A Vernal husband and wife, who are each charged with 19 felony sex crimes, have been released from jail after posting bail. Police became aware of the alleged activity that involved conaen-nu- J and group aex with the couples' old younger relatives after a girl was taken to the Uintah Basin Medical Canter whsre ah accused Thomas M. Melo, 27, of raping her when she felt ill and went to lay down during a birthday party at his home on April 1. Melo and his wife, Atyssa A Melo, 29, talked to Uintah County Sheriff detectives and allegedly admitted to having aex with their teenage victims starting about a year anda-hal- f ago and continuing until their recent aiveat-Th- a alleged victims tee firmed the story for investigators. Polio confiscated beer, whiskey nd wina at the Melo' Uint County residence when they went to investigate the alleged rape on April 2. The victims ranged in age from 13 to 17, and included boys and girls. The Melos are each charged with six counts of 9 degree felony counts of incest, five 3 degree felony counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a 1617 year old; four counts of 3 degree unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, one count of 1 degree felony rape, one count of 1 degree felony forcible aodomy, one count of la degree felony rape of a child, and on count of Tr degree felony forcible sexual abuse. O EXTRACTION PROCESS-Th- is type of methamphetamine laboratory setcommon methamphetamine manufacin most is Utah. The up fairly typical estimate that this meth lab four involves Investigators turing process stages. in Uintah County was turning out about $7,000 to $10,000 worth of methamphetamine per batch." Stepfather gets jail in old molestation of 7-y- ear A former Roosevelt resident cepted fUll responsibility for his actions. was given a suspended prison sen"I made a mistake and am willing tence for sexually abusing his old shortly after he to pay for it I have no excuses for my married the girl's mother. Hillary K. actions," Steward stated. Time in Steward, 31, waa given a 0 5 jraar jail gave me time to think about my suspended term in the Utah State fUturaandhowIcould change things. 1 am definitely a changed person. Prison for his conviction on a 3 count of According to prosecutors, the attempted degree felony sexual abuse of a child. Tha couple sexual abuse occurred on several occasion", although Steward was art now divorced. Steward was ordered to serve one charged with the single count. year in tha Duchesne County jail Duchesne County Attorney Herb with credit for the approximately Gillespie concurred with a report eight months ha hu already served from Adult Parole and Probation, in jail in Arizona and Duchesne. His that Steward not be given additional sentence will be reviewed in early time in jail. step-daught- Steward was arrested in Kingman, Aris. last year on unrelated theft charges. He was extradited to Duchesne County after Arizona law enforcement authorities Steward, who now resides in Manti, told Judge lynn Payne during sentencing last Thursday, April 13, in 8 District Court that he ac PROCESSING-- A beaker containing epinephrine oil sits on lop of a healing unit in the first stage of a methamphetamine cook. This operating meth lab was discovered in a small camper trailer in a residential neighborhood in Uintah County. there discovered there was a warrant for his arrest out of Duchesne County. The charges in Arizona were As part of his later dropped. sentencing. Steward was placed on 36 month probation, ordered to register immediately as sex offender and complete sex offender treatment, pay all fines and restitution for counseling costa incurred by the victim and her mother, and pay the county the coet of extraditing him from Arizona to Duchesne County for 16-ye- ar Rape case goes to juvenile court to spare victim THE WEEK OF APRIL 17TH, WE'RE t. MW?"- ,r it" ntty i V THE PRIMARY REASON FOR OUR SUCCESS. Alyssa A. Melo condition that he plead guilty to the rape charge in juvenile court The defense had argued that Fisco was a juvenile at the time the incident involving a old girl, occurred in November 1997. However, last February, an 8 District Court judge ruled there waa sufficient evidence to show that Fisco waa 18 at the time the crime allegedly occurred and should stand trial as an adult on tha rape charge. Sentencing is pending his plea in Juvenile Court. 13-yv- ar A plea agreement has been old rape case reached in a two-yeto save the victim tha trauma of testifying at trial According to 8 District Court records, the case against Anthony Tony Fisco, 21, will be dismissed in District Court and refllad in Juvenile Court on the ar K CUSTOMER APPRECIATION WEEK, APRIL 17 - 21 For an entire week, your local Zions Bank branch will be throwing a party that you simply can t niisv. (After all, you're the reason for the party.) It all begins with a community celebration Monday a through Thursday, where you'll find local festivities and the chance to win great prizes including trip for two to Mexico. Then on Friday. April 21 .join us for the big party "here we the trip winners. 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