3 plead guilty to meth charges

Three Southeast Missouri men have pleaded guilty to methamphetamine charges, U.S. Attorney Ray Gruender said Tuesday.

The cases were unrelated, but all three entered pleas in federal court Monday before U.S. District Judge E. Richard Webber.

Robert H. James, 39, of Cape Girardeau and George W. Slayton Jr., 34, of Naylor each admitted attempting to manufacture meth. Christopher S. Keller, 31, of Cape Girardeau County pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture meth.

Sentencings are scheduled for March 25.

Police found several items used to produce meth at an auto body shop operated by James at 162 E. Cape Rock Drive on June 20.

Keller admitted that he and another man obtained anhydrous ammonia for the purpose of making methamphetamine on July 27. They manufactured the meth two days later at the home of another defendant in that case, Sean Viox, who pleaded guilty earlier this month and will be sentenced March 4.

A police search of Slayton's mobile home and pickup truck on Sept. 27, 2000, uncovered several items used to produce meth, authorities said.

The arrests were the result of investigations by the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force, The Cape Girardeau Police Department, Missouri Highway Patrol and the New Madrid County Sheriff's Department.