A man waived a preliminary hearing Monday before District Judge William Todd on allegations he was manufacturing methamphetamine in an Eldred apartment.
James Baker, 22, of Eldred, is charged with operating a methamphetamine lab and with burglary, both first-degree felonies; possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance and possess precursors of methamphetamine, both felonies; risking catastrophe and criminal trespassing, both third-degree felonies; and possession of drug paraphernalia.
According to the criminal complaint, between Dec. 1 and Feb. 26, Baker was cooking meth in an upstairs apartment at 179 Main St., Eldred, while there were people living in the downstairs apartment. Police reported finding items in the apartment including instant cold packs, camp fuel, liquid Drano, coffee filters and lye.
Between Dec. 8 and Feb. 20, Baker allegedly purchased a total of 15.6 grams of pseudoephedrine to be used in the process. He made eight separate purchases: six at the Walmart Pharmacy in Olean, N.Y., and one each at Rite Aid Pharmacy in Olean and Buchanan Brothers Pharmacy in Eldred, court records indicate.
Court records indicate that Baker entered the apartment without permission on Feb. 24 to tend to his meth lab, but the complaint does not indicate if he had permission to be there at any prior point, or how he came to use the apartment for the alleged lab.
Baker remains in McKean County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.
