Repeat offender busted for meth lab

PABLO — Early last week, a man in and out of prison since 1996 made good on a jailhouse promise to help police find local meth labs — only this lab was, allegedly, his own.

On July 4, Ronald Lee Phillips Jr., 47, was booked into the Lake County Jail on five charges including a violation, two misdemeanors, and two felonies – felony operation of a clandestine lab and felony possession of precursors to dangerous drugs.

According to a document ordering Phillips to appear in court, the charges pertain, more specifically, to the operation of an “unlawful clandestine laboratory – methamphetamine” and the chemicals found to make meth including “iodine in conjunction with ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or red phosphorus.”

Phillips was seen in justice court Thursday for the lesser charges. The felony charges will be transferred to district court for a hearing within the next 10 days; if convicted of both, Phillips faces up to 60 years in prison and $75,000 in fines.

The latest arrest should come as no surprise to law enforcement; the Ronan resident, who lists “heavy equipment operator” as his profession, has been in and out of the system for the last 15 years.

According to court documents, Phillips’ first conviction was in 1996, for issuing a bad check. A year later he was convicted of three misdemeanors: criminal possession of dangerous drugs, criminal possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal contempt.

In Nov. of 2000 he was once again arrested, this time for criminal distribution of dangerous drugs and criminal possession with intent to distribute – charges which he was convicted of in Oct. 2005. For each charge Phillips was sentenced to a suspended sentence, but he was soon revoked for violating parole.

While serving time on those charges, Phillips wrote a letter offering to act as a confidential informant in exchange for reduced jail time. Addressed to “Julie Knutson, Mitch Young + Supreme Court” and dated Sept. 14, 2005, the letter states “I am writing because I feel I have learned my lesson and can do well on probation again…Mitch Young knows of me + I am willing to help to show where meth labs are in the valley here + where drugs are at drug houses, if I can go back on the streets.”

In a second letter, also written from prison, Phillips adds, “I have done meth for 17 years, I know lots of people on it and places were parents are cooking meth while their children are home at that time + places where they sell the drug + shoot it right next to schools…Maybe it’s time I made a stand against the drug to better other lives as well as mine + get on the right path.”

Throughout his criminal career, Phillips has also been booked for partner or family member assault, criminal mischief, robbery, and assault on a police/judicial officer.

Last week’s arrest was made at 3rd Ave and Pablo, West, but until Phillips’ case is officially transferred to district court, additional details surrounding the booking are not public record.

Phillips remains incarcerated in the Lake County Jail; his bond is set at $20,000.