Local man jailed after manufacturing meth, assaulting wife

BY ERIC HRIN (Staff Writer)
Published: February 8, 2012

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TROY - A 28-year-old Granville Summit man was jailed after threatening to kill his wife and possessing and manufacturing methamphetamine at his residence Jan. 25 on Allen Meadows Road in Granville Township, according to court papers filed at the office of Magisterial District Jonathan Wilcox of Troy.

Michael Kent West was charged with a violation of the controlled substance, drug, device, and cosmetic act for possessing paraphernalia to inject methamphetamine, the papers note. The paraphernalia included a rubber arm band, spoon, and syringe.

In addition, West was charged with endangering the welfare of children. West's wife told police her young daughter was asleep in the residence while West manufactured methamphetamine, according to an affidavit.

West was also charged with simple assault and harassment for pushing and choking his wife, which caused scratches and bruises. In addition, he was charged with recklessly endangering another person for engaging in conduct - that of possessing and manufacturing methamphetamine - which placed or may have placed the daughter in danger of death or serious bodily injury, the papers note.

According to an affidavit:

West's wife told police that she had arrived at her house at 12:30 a.m., walked into the basement, and saw curtains hanging from the rafters in the basement. She said her husband was in the basement with a friend, there was a strong odor of a chemical smell, and she saw a jar West was using to mix chemicals to manufacture methamphetamine. She said her young daughter was asleep in the residence while West was manufacturing the methamphetamine.

In addition, West's wife told police her husband woke her up around 8:30 a.m., they argued, and she tried to leave.

As she attempted to leave, West took her car keys and cell phone and pushed her to the ground. She landed on her right side, injuring her midsection. He pinned her to the ground by placing his weight on her, choked her and bit her while she was on the ground.

According to the affidavit, West told her he was going to kill her.

The affidavit notes that a short time later, West allowed his wife to get off the ground and she ran out of the house to her father-in-law's house located nearby. West arrived at the residence soon after with her vehicle and gave her the car keys. She sought medical treatment at Memorial Hospital in Towanda for her injuries.

According to police, multiple items were found in a search of the residence including bed sheets, curtains, and a plastic tarp found in the basement in a clothes dryer. Police said the tarp had strings around the metal eyelets so that it could be hung up, and several coffee filters were found in the dryer. In addition, a bottle of isopropyl rubbing alcohol, a jar containing three baggies of suspected methamphetamine, and an identical jar containing a small piece of coffee filter was found. Police said a metal case with a marijuana leaf on the front containing a rubber strap, spoon, cotton swab, and syringe was also found. Police said the suspected substance was identified as methamphetamine by West and the state police vice unit.

Wilcox said West's $50,000 bail wasn't posted and he was placed in Bradford County Correctional Facility. Wilcox said West faces a preliminary hearing at 1 p.m. Feb. 8.

Eric Hrin can be reached at (570) 297-5251; email: reviewtroy@thedailyreview.com.

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