County officials find meth lab in Hodges

By Staff
Melissa Cason
HODGES – Officials with the Franklin County Sheriff's Department found working methamphetamine labs in two homes in Hodges as the department continues its investigation of persons who buy precursors to making meth.
Franklin County Sheriff Larry Plott said three arrests were made after a joint investigation with his department, the Red Bay Police Department, the Russellville Police Department and the Franklin County District Attorney's Office.
Plott said Billy Ray Brooks, 46, of 4818 Highway 172 in Hodges, Sonya Brooks, 42, of 4280 Highway 172 in Hodges, and Hollis Glenn Childers, 49, of 4280 Highway 172 in Hodges, were arrested Wednesday evening and charged with first-degree manufacturing, possession of controlled substance, and chemical endangerment of a child. Sonya Brooks was also charged with drug trafficking.
"We found meth labs in the residence, and in the backyards going through the woods from one house to the other house," Plott said.
Plott said 32 grams, just over one ounce, of liquid meth was found while executing two search warrants at the residences.
A child was present at the time the warrants were executed, and the Department of Human Resources was called in to assist with the child, who did not appear to have injuries as a result of the chemical exposure.
Plott said Franklin County Special Response Team (SRT) was called in to assist law enforcement officials with the execution of the search warrants at the residences.
The SRT team is comprised of law enforcement officials from the Russellville Police Department, the Franklin County Sheriff's Department, the Franklin County District Attorney's Office, and the Red Bay Police Department.
These officials are trained for high-risk situations such as executing search warrants.
According to the Alabama Criminal Code, trafficking and first-degree manufacturing a controlled substance is a Class A felony, which carries a penalty of 10 years to life in prison upon conviction.
Plott said these arrests are a part of his office's continued effort to crack down on individuals believed to be manufacturing meth in Franklin County.
There have been more than 80 arrests for manufacturing meth since Jan. 2008.