3 face drug charges after meth labs found

FRANKLIN COUNTY - Three people, including a divorced couple, were arrested and charged with manufacturing methamphetamine after two Franklin County houses were searched Wednesday, authorities said.

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office said an officer received several tips about the possibility of illegal activity at the residences.

Investigators said officers set up surveillance on the two locations to get information for securing search

warrants.

Investigators said that since Jan. 14, there have been 87 people arrested on meth-related charges in the county and about 20 labs have been confiscated and destroyed.

Hollis Glenn Childers, 49, 4280, Alabama 172, Hodges, and Sonya Brooks, 42, same address, were charged with first-degree manufacturing a controlled substance and trafficking methamphetamine, according to reports.

Billy Brooks, 46, 4818 Alabama 172, Hodges, who is Sonya Brooks' ex-husband, was charged with first-degree manufacturing a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, certain persons prohibited from possessing a firearm and chemical endangerment of a child.

Investigators said the two houses were only a few hundred feet apart. Officers with the Franklin County District Attorney's Office, and Russellville and Red Bay police helped the sheriff's office in executing the search warrants at both houses at the same time.

Authorities said a 16-year-old pregnant teenager was at Billy Brooks' residence. Her presence in the home is what resulted in the charge of chemical endangerment of a child.

Authorities also found parts of a lab inside the house. Chemicals and other ingredients used in the manufacturing process were found inside the house, authorities said.

When the officers entered Childers' residence, they found an active "one-pot" lab underneath the home's crawl space. Investigators said it was sitting in a 23-ounce plastic bottle. They got more than an ounce of meth from Childers' house, officials said.

Trafficking charges are issued for an ounce of meth or more.

A variety of loaded guns, rifles and pistols were found inside both houses, authorities said.

Officials said there was evidence of previous meth cooks found throughout the area.

Billy Brooks, Childers and Sonya Brooks were in the Franklin County Jail without bail Thursday.

Tom Smith can be reached at 740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.