Published: July 24, 2008 04:02 pm            

Bond reduced in meth lab case

COMMERCE — Bond has been reduced for a Commerce man, accused of operating a methamphetamine lab out of a residence on Highway 50.

Bobby Shane Richardson, 36, may not be getting out of the Hunt County Jail right away, however, as a state district judge did not lower the bond quite as much as the defendant had hoped.

Richardson was arrested on April 1 by officers with the Hunt County Sheriff’s Office, who were responding to a report of a possible narcotics lab at the home in the 7400 block of Highway 50. After receiving consent from Richardson to search the property, the officers reported finding quantities of methamphetamine inside the home and a functional methamphetamine production facility outside the residence.

Richardson was taken into custody and charged with one count of manufacture and/or delivery of a controlled substance, namely methamphetamine, in an amount of between four and 200 grams, a first degree felony offense, punishable by a maximum sentence upon conviction of from five to 99 years to life in prison and an optional fine of up to $10,000.

Richardson was booked into the Hunt County Jail in lieu of $500,000 bond. Richardson had filed a writ of habeas corpus, asking to be released on a personal recognizance bond.

Instead, 196th District Court Judge Joe Leonard Monday lowered Richardson’s bond to $100,000, cash or surety.

        

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