Monday's Internet Edition, February 08, 2010.

Melissa Dawn West, 30, of Fairmont was the first to appear before Roane Circuit Judge David Nibert Tuesday.

Her attorney, John Oshoway, told Nibert she was in the process of ending her relationship with Robert Sheets when police raided Sheets’ mobile home on Cottontree Road in April of last year. In all, seven people were indicted on charges stemming from the meth lab operation police said began in Kanawha County before moving to Roane.

West had pled guilty to conspiring to operate a clandestine drug lab. Oshoway said she was getting her life back together, but he said he had no explanation as to why she failed a drug test in August.

West also spoke and made a brief but tear-filled request for leniency.

Nibert said he had no choice but to send the young mother to jail.

“I don’t believe probation will be sufficient to keep you off drugs,” he told West before sentencing her to 1-to-5 years in prison.

West was taken into custody immediately to begin serving her sentence but Nibert told Oshoway he would consider any proposals for alternative sentencing Oshoway would submit in writing.

In related cases, Shellie M. Sheets Smith, 31, of Cottontree Road was placed on three years probation after she pled guilty to conspiring to operate a clandestine drug lab. She was ordered to perform 100 hours of community service, attend weekly meetings of Narcotics Anonymous and have no contact with others charged in the case.

Two more persons entered guilty pleas to conspiring to operate a clandestine drug lab. Amelia Marie Copen, 28, of Falling Rock and Kevin Scott Dye, 38, of Clendenin will both be sentenced Dec. 14.

In an unrelated case, Linda Carpenter, 51, of Grantsville was placed on three years probation after she pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge of welfare fraud.

Nibert ordered her to make restitution of $3,064 to the state Dept. of Health and Human Resources, with monthly payments of $50 to start next month.