LEWISTON — A Mechanic Falls man who pleaded guilty Thursday to operating a methamphetamine lab was expected to be released from jail after serving two months of a two-and-a-half-year sentence.

Daniel Kelly, 45, of 640 Pigeon Hill Road, appeared in 8th District Court where he waived his right to have his felony case presented to a grand jury.

Judge Rick Lawrence imposed a sentence of 30 months, but suspended all of that time, except for the 62 days Kelly had spent at Androscoggin County Jail in Auburn.

Kelly was arrested in June and charged with unlawful operation of a meth lab after drug agents tracked a suspicious car to a wooded area in Mechanic Falls. The agent discovered meth-making materials in the trunk of the car where Kelly and two others were present, Assistant Attorney General Johanna Gauvreau said.

Attorney Allan Lobozzo, who represented Kelly, said his client was merely an accomplice in the operation and had not been directly involved in the “cooking” of meth.

Kelly works as a floor refinisher, Lobozzo said.

Gauvreau said drug agents had tracked purchases of pseudoephederine by James Ludlow, 41, of Lewiston and his girlfriend, Kimberly Lothrop, 25, of 292 Blue Road, Monmouth, and concluded they may have been involved in meth manufacturing. Ludlow had a history of convictions in meth operations, according to court papers.

Lothrop and Ludlow were arrested and charged. It was Lothrop’s car, driven by Ludlow, that agents had followed into the woods in Mechanic Falls on June 17, Gauvreau said.

Kelly told agents he had been buying pseudoephedrine for Ludlow so that he could make meth, according to a sworn statement by Maine Drug Enforcement Agency Special Agent Nicholas Gagnon.

Methamphetamine is an extremely addictive stimulant. Preparing the drug is considered dangerous because the chemicals can create fumes and there is a risk of fire or explosion, according to authorities.

During Kelly’s two years of probation, he is barred from having contact with Lothrop and Ludlow. He may not have alcohol, illegal drugs or pseudoephedrine and can be searched at random for all three.

He also was ordered to repay MDEA $400.

The felony for which Kelly was charged was punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

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