DUNCAN — Jurors picked in the courtroom of Judge Joe Enos Monday got a crash course in the manufacturing of methamphetamine and “mobile labs.”

But before the proceedings could get started, the jury selection included numerous questions of potential jurors that weeded out nearly a dozen individuals. During the selection process, it was determined that some of the jurors had personal issues — one said he has a sister who is addicted but not dealing with it, another claimed her brother-in-law had recently been released after a four-year prison term for a methamphetamine crime.

The impact of the “meth trade” heard through the brief stories of the jurors as Enos questioned them, was indicator for the state’s case against defendant John Lawrence Dubois, who has been charged with the felonious crime of attempting to manufacture methamphetamine.

One juror was dismissed when he told the judge he could not remove his personal feelings.

“I have no tolerance for anyone making drugs that could affect our children,” he said.

After the jury pool was whittled down to a 8 men and 4   women, with one female alternate, the courtroom was void of any spectators, other than those connected directly with the Stephens County District Court.

 Testimony was heard from two Oklahoma Highway Patrol Troopers Darin Carmen and Roger Peck, Task Force Investigator Justin Scott and Ed Moore, a criminalist from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations.

DuBois’ defense attorney was Taylor Stein of Lawton, who will present defense for his client today when court reconvenes for this case at 10 a.m.

State prosecutor First Assistant District Attorney Assistant Dennis Gay rested for the state after a long day of testimony from state’s witnesses which detailed the traffic stop of DuBois and Jennifer Kincaid. Kincaid has already been convicted of her role in the alleged crime, it was noted in court.

Carman testified that on Nov. 27, 2009, while on patrol, he noticed a car with a right rear brake light out, traveling at 27th Street and State Highway 7 (bypass), heading east. He stopped the vehicle for defective equipment, but when he approached the car, he noticed a strong odor of ether. He called Peck to the car who also noticed it, he said in court.

It was strong enough they both retreated to their patrol car to discuss how to proceed, Carman testified.

“It was enough to make me cough a little,” Carman told Gay during the state’s questioning.

“We stopped the search and called Lt. Lawson Guthrie,” Carman said.

Because of the complexities in how to deal with a rolling mobile meth lab, the troopers agreed to call in someone with more training, Carman said.

Stephens County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Lawson Guthrie was called to assist during the traffic stop. Guthrie also took the stand Monday to detail his background and the steps he took to secure the scene.

The law enforcement officers told the jury Monday that there were numerous items in the car, used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine.

In a sealed five-gallon plastic bucket near the witness stand, was evidence that Moore testified would be too volatile to open.

All four law enforcement officers talked about the dangers of the “two-part liquid” that had been allegedly discovered in the vehicle that Dubois was driving. Moore said that during his testing of the liquid, it tested positive for methamphetamine.

Lawson also testified that the particular meth/lab seized by Trooper Carman on that date, is referred to as a Nazi cook, because it was originally manufactured by Hitler, thus gaining its name.

Jurors also heard about the three stages in which the materials go through to become meth.

Dubois’ attorney did ask at one point if there were any evidence that indicated the meth lab was actually his client’s, “as far as his participation.”

It was noted that Dubois was driving the vehicle in which the product was being cooked and was littered with everything from used lithium batteries to receipts showing purchases of things to cook it. There was also a GPS unit on the dashboard of the car that had routes mapped to various stores where the receipts showed purchase of items, Guthrie noted.

The jury was informed to report at 10 a.m. today for the conclusion of the case. Stein had asked for dismissal of the case, but was denied his request.

A jury is also expected to be selected and a trial scheduled to begin today in a lewd molestation case.



— Toni Hopper is a reporter for The Duncan Banner. She can be reached at 580-255-5354, Ext. 132 or by e-mail at: toni.hopper@duncanbanner.com.