A Bowie man accused of multiple drug
crimes pleaded guilty to one charge this week and asked a
Montague County jury for probation because he has no prior
convictions, an official said.
James Caswell, 46, of Bowie pleaded guilty to manufacturing
methamphetamine, Assistant 97th District Attorney Jack
McGaughey said. The defense is expected to present its case in
the punishment phase today at 9 a.m. in the Montague County
Courthouse.
Caswell was being held Tuesday in Montague County Jail on a
$1 million bond for the most recent drug charge against him,
McGaughey said. Caswell pleaded guilty at the beginning of his
trial Monday for an Oct. 23, 2003, incident.
His guilty plea was not part of a plea bargain, McGaughey
said. A jury of seven women and five men will determine his
punishment.
The first-degree felony has a punishment range of 5 to 99
years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
McGaughey said he finished presenting the state's case for
punishment Tuesday, including evidence from Jan. 21 and Oct. 7
incidents.
Caswell was free on $425,000 total bonds until his latest
arrest Oct. 29 this year, McGaughey said.
In the Oct. 23, 2003 incident Caswell pleaded guilty to,
Bowie Police discovered a meth lab behind his Central Avenue
home and more than 400 grams of meth, according to previous
Times Record News reports.
Pending charges against Caswell include:
( Conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine in connection
with previous incidents. Caswell and Marta Buck, 46, of Bowie
were arrested Oct. 29. Buck faces the same charge and was also
being held Tuesday in Montague County Jail on a $1 million
bond.
( Manufacturing meth more than 4 grams and less than 200
grams in connection with an Oct. 7 incident. Buck was also
arrested.
( Manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance more than
200 grams and less than 400 grams in connection with a Jan. 24
incident.
Investigators found what they said were lab components and
more than 200 grams of powdered meth at a Bowie home,
according to previous TRN reports.
Senior Writer Trish Choate can be reached at (940)
763-7533, (800) 627-1646, Ext. 533, or via e-mail at
choatet(at)TimesRecordNews.com.
)
)
