A Columbia Falls woman appeared in Flathead County District Court on July 31 facing charges that she helped her husband run a meth lab out of a van.
Beverly George pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of criminal possession of precursors to dangerous drugs.
According to court documents, George called police Jan. 4 to report that she had been involved in a physical altercation with her husband, George Harrison Burger. She also told police that she believed Burger was running a meth lab out of a van on their property.
On the way to the home, sheriff deputies found Burger in his car in a ditch. He was arrested and while being booked at the Flathead County Detention Center, officers found a snort tube with a white powdery residue in Burger’s pocket.
Officers later obtained a search warrant for the van and found the makings of a meth lab, including a pseudoephedrine blister pack, a bottle of drain cleaner, coffee filters, beakers and a plate with white residue, court documents stated. Based on that evidence, Burger was charged with felony operation of an unlawful clandestine laboratory.
Police also discovered that the van was registered in George’s name. According to court documents, she later admitted to police that she had helped her husband by purchasing pseudoephedrine, an over-the-counter prescription drug that treats sinus infections and can be used to make meth. A check of the Smith’s Pharmacy logs revealed that George had allegedly purchased pseudoephedrine on six different occasions in November and December 2013.
If convicted, George could spend up to 20 years in prison and be fined $50,000.