Marion County men suspected of running 'one pot' meth lab indicted

Three men suspected of making methamphetamine in a New Bloomington trailer were indicted on felony charges this week.
Donald E. Hurrell Jr., 53; Patrick W. Kepler, 44; and Jonathon M. Klaiber, 36, all of New Bloomington, were each indicted on two counts of illegal assembly of chemicals to manufacture methamphetamine, both second-degree felonies, and other charges Wednesday in Marion County Common Pleas Court.

MARMET Drug Task Force agents allegedly uncovered a "one-pot" meth lab at a trailer in the 400 block of South Washington Street in New Bloomington, where two of the men are believed to have lived, during a search on April 15, said Marion Police Lt. Chris Adkins.

"We did find evidence of manufacturing such as the one pot, what we call the gas generators (and) chemicals associated with manufacturing methamphetamine," he told the Star.

Though investigators are waiting on lab results, they also found what they believe to be a few grams of methamphetamine powder and liquid containing meth at the trailer, he said.

Adkins said he believed the men were making the meth for their own use.

The three also were charged with one count of complicity to illegal manufacture of methamphetamine, a second-degree felony, and one count of aggravated possession of drugs, a first degree felony, in Marion County Common Pleas Court.

All three are being held in the Multi-County Correctional Center each on a $250,000 cash or surety bond, according to court records.

A Marion County grand jury also returned indictments Wednesday against three people allegedly connected to a shooting Sunday outside Heritage Apartments just south of Marion.

Law enforcement allege that Marshall A. Talley Jr., 23, of Marion, shot and wounded a 29-year-old man in the leg late Sunday in the 1400 block of Southland Parkway. Marion County Sheriff Tim Bailey told the Star earlier this week that investigators were still looking into the shooter's motive.

Talley was indicted on one count of attempted murder, a first-degree felony, and two counts of felonious assault, both second-degree felonies, on Wednesday. Each charge carries a three-year firearm specification, meaning if convicted, Talley could spend three extra years in prison on each conviction.

In Ohio, attempted murder carries a maximum penalty of 11 years in prison.

Reagan E. Cook, 20, and Javon M. Gray, 24, both of Marion, were each charged with one count of obstructing justice, a third-degree felony, in common pleas court.

Cook and Gray are accused of allowing Talley into their apartment after the shooting and helping hide him from law enforcement, according to court records.

Originally published in the Marion Star on May 3, 2019.