WARREN - A former Jefferson man, who had been living in Trumbull County recently, was sentenced to 30 months behind bars after pleading guilty Monday to charges linking him to a methamphetamine lab in his home.
Prosecutors say Carlos G. Cowger Jr., 36, was actually making the drugs at his Braceville Robinson Road home in February while he was free on bond after he was indicted two or three months earlier for the same thing.
''When they arrested him in February, he actually answered the door wearing his rubber gloves,'' said assistant county prosecutor Michael Burnett.
Agents with Trumbull-Ashtabula Group Law Enforcement Task Force said at the time that Cowger was a known manufacturer as well as an addict.
Neighbors reported an offensive odor coming from Cowger's home or garage and said it smelled like burning garbage. Agents said he was involved in a ''shake and bake'' or ''one pot cook'' method of making the drug.
Drain cleaner, coffee filters and decongestant chemicals were found at the home - an indication of the explosive manufacture.
After the arrest in February, Cowger was held in lieu of $50,000 bond, since he had posted bond after the arrest in November.
Monday he pleaded guilty to two third-degree felonies, including illegal manufacturing of drugs and illegal assembly or possession of the chemicals used to make the drugs.
Judge Peter Kontos handed down the 30-month sentence, which according to a plea agreement will run concurrent to another 30-month sentence he is scheduled to receive July 24 from Judge Andrew Logan.
Logan is assigned the case and the four meth-related charges from November that Cowger already pleaded guilty to in that court.