WHITEVILLE, NC (WWAY) — A man is behind bars after Columbus County Sheriff’s Office deputies discovered two young children living at a Whiteville home with a meth lab on the property.

Deputies were dispatched early Friday to a home on Gore Trailer Road in Whiteville. The call was in reference to a domestic dispute between Johnathan Huggins, his girlfriend and her mother.

- Advertisement -

When deputies got to the scene, they said they discovered a meth lab in an outbuilding. They found drug paraphernalia, more than 28 grams of methamphetamine, and precursor chemicals used to manufacture methamphetamine, including ammonium nitrate, lithium metal, and Sudafed.

The State Bureau of Investigation’s Clandestine Lab Response Team was contacted to assist Columbus County Sheriff’s Office to remove the material.

Huggins was book into the Columbus County Law Enforcement Center with a $426,000 secured bond.

Charges:

1 misdemeanor count of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

2 felony counts of Trafficking Methamphetamine

1 felony count of Manufacturing a Schedule II Controlled Substance

3 felony counts of Possession of a Precursor with the Intent to Manufacture Methamphetamine

1 felony count of Maintaining a Vehicle for Use, Storage, or Sale of a Controlled Substance