Think there is no such of a place? Then you have never dealt with the DA’s office in Winston County. This is a place where Meth Labs are found about as often as DUI’s are given. The sheriffs office even put out a video to show at schools, and encouraged us parents to come view it so we know the problem in our community. The video can be found on the sheriffs office website. Yet, they cannot figure out why they can’t get a hold on the problem. I am about to tell you why.

I bring in the case of Travis Leo Mobley. On August 29, 2006 he was arrested and later indicted on charges of manufacturing meth 1st degree, Chemical Endangerment of a Child, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Marijuana. He along with 2 others was charged with Chemical Endangerment of a Child, because there were 2 children in the home with the components of a Meth Lab. They were the first people in Winston County to be charged with this new law. The law changed it from a misdemeanor to a felony if caught manufacturing meth, or having the components to make Meth in the house while children are present. This was a GREAT opportunity for the County to make an example that we are going to protect our community and our children from type of people.

However, while awaiting trial on those charges, he was arrested again on September 24, 2008. He was charged with Unlawful Manufacturing of a Controlled Substance, Chemical Endangerment of a Child, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Anhydrous Ammonia. This shows him as a habitual and non-remorseful offender. Sounds pretty bad, huh? Well, it was bad enough that, well remember that video I was telling you about on the Winston County sheriffs website. The first bust listed is shown at length in the video. The DA himself called it a “high profile case”.

That brings in a tally of 7 felonies. Three are repeats while still waiting to go to trial on the others. Which again I say shows him as a habitual and non-remorseful offender. If ever the County had the opportunity to put their foot down on this problem this was it. However, last week our DA chose to do the following.

He opted to allow Mr. Mobley to plea to one count of Unlawful Manufacturing of a Controlled Substance. The rest were dismissed!! The rest of the charges never existed!! That means absolutely NO justice for those children, that were put into those places by no choose of their own, to breathe and inhale those deadly fumes. No justice for those children that had to be in those places, unknown to them, that were ticking time bombs, waiting to explode as we all have read about so often in this county. Also, there was no justice for our community, based on the record; there is no reason to think this will not happen again in five years. Yes, he got 5 years in jail, then he will have 5 years of probation. While young minds are scarred for life.

Some of you are saying this does not happen in my circle, or my neighborhood. Some are saying can’t happen to my kid. Some are asking, why does it matter so much to you? Well, it can happen in your neighborhood, it can be your kid, and it matters so much to me, because one of those young scarred minds is my 11-year-old son. What opportunity must arise for our DA’s office to put their foot down? Must I fear that it has to be bigger than this?

From A Desperate Father,

Allen Lawrence