AUBURN — Two cousins from Lewiston were indicted Tuesday on charges of operating methamphetamine labs in their apartments.

Samuel Johnson, 29, of 18 Turgeon St. was charged in an indictment by an Androscoggin County grand jury with unlawful operation of a methamphetamine lab, a Class B felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. He also was charged with misdemeanor violation of condition of release.

Joseph Marcous, 29, of 333 Lisbon St. was indicted on two counts of operating a meth lab and two counts of reckless conduct.

Methamphetamine is an extremely addictive central nervous system stimulant. Manufacturing it can create toxic and potentially explosive gases.

A Maine Drug Enforcement Agency officer said in court papers that he responded Jan. 29 to a complaint of Johnson and his cousin “playing with chemicals” in a Sabattus Street apartment. 

Special Agent Brian Beauparlant wrote in a report that he visited the apartment and interviewed Johnson’s roommate, who showed him the room where he said he observed Marcous holding a plastic bottle with a tube sticking out of the top.

Beauparlant wrote that description is consistent with a “gas generator” used in the making of meth. Johnson’s roommate also told the agent he saw Johnson wearing a mask while in the spare room.

Beauparlant wrote that he saw burn marks on the carpet as well as black “char marks” on the adjacent walls. A bag containing lithium batteries that had been cut open, a knife with white powder on the blade and a melted instant cold pack wrapper that contains ammonium nitrate were all items consistent with making meth. On a porch accessed from the room, the agent saw coffee filters coated with residue and a bottle of lighter fluid, also items used in meth manufacturing.

Matthew Cashman, supervisor of the MDEA Southern District Clandestine Lab Team arrived and noted that Marcous had bought pseudoephedrine, a prime ingredient precursor drug needed to make meth, the night before.

Johnson told Beauparlant that he and Marcous had been in the spare room where Marcous was “trying to show him how to make Molotov cocktails.” Johnson denied they had been trying to make meth. He gave Beauparlant Marcous’ home address and said his cousin had left with a backpack containing some of the items from the spare room.

When Cashman and Lewiston police officers converged on Marcous’ apartment, they noticed a strong chemical odor coming from the apartment. Officers observed what appeared to be a small “one pot” reaction vessel in the garbage can next to the door. In a bag were a container of drain cleaner (sodium hydroxide) and other chemicals. “One pots” and “gassing generators” were in plain view, Beauparlant wrote in his report.

Police evacuated the apartment building.

Marcous later told police that he had attempted to make meth at Johnson’s home the night before, but he had failed and started a fire in the spare room. He had brought the remaining items back to his Lisbon Street apartment where he said he believed the “one pots” were still actively making meth. He said his cousin had been aware of what they were doing and “had an active role” in the effort to make meth, providing some of the items used.

Johnson was released from Androscoggin County Jail on $500 cash bail and a supervision contract. Marcous was released on his personal recognizance and a supervision contract.

Conditions of release for both include no alcohol and illegal drugs and being subject to random search and testing. They also must undergo substance abuse evaluation and counseling.

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