49 Year old Richard W. Wilburn who was sentenced in Rutherford County to ten years in prison for initiating the manufacturing of meth has asked for a new trial. Wilburn stated that the trial courts made an error in his ten year sentence suggesting that the state cannot prove that he was endangering anyone's life by making methamphetamine's.

Looking back to how the case unfolded, it started with Wilburn getting charged for the second time with driving on a revoked license. That same year he was indicted for initiating a process intended to make meth. The charge was filed by the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office Narcotics unit.

When a search warrant was obtained for the home that reportedly belonged to Wilburn, detectives found syringes, sulfuric acid, coffee filters and other evidence that proved a meth lab was present.

Next door to where the meth lab was found, Detective Curtis Brinkley noted in court that there were multiple children living. Det. Brinkley further described the cooking of meth process as "dangerous" because it frequently caused explosions. Gas generators outside the home where the lab was found was described as being within "dangerous proximity" to the children.

Despite what looked to be an elaborate meth operation, Wilburn told the courts he didn't manufacture the meth to make money, but instead to get high.

Regardless of Wilburn's attempt to see a new trial, The Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee said no. Therefore, Wilburn will remain behind bars at the South Central Correctional Center in Clifton, Tennessee until year 2024. However, he could be released on parole in year 2018.

The Clerk of the Appeals Court filed the denial on Monday, February 6, 2017.

Source:

TN Dept. of Corrections
TN Appeals Court Nos. F-74351, M-73937, M-73940 & M-73973