MOUNT CARMEL - A borough woman charged with multiple felonies for operating a methamphetamine lab with her live-in boyfriend waived her right to a preliminary hearing and formal arraignment in county court Wednesday afternoon before Magisterial District Judge Hugh Jones.
Kim L. Metcalf, 30, of 244 S. Beech St., was remanded back to Northumberland County Prison in Sunbury in lieu of $200,000 cash bail after waiving to court a dozen charges.
Northumberland County Public Defender Paige Rosini, who represented Metcalf, conferred with her client for several minutes before informing the judge that she planned to waive her case to the Court of Common Pleas.
Jones denied Rosini's request to lower Metcalf's bail.
Metcalf, who was handcuffed and wearing an orange county prison jumpsuit, was ordered by Jones to appear for plea court at Northumberland County Courthouse on Oct. 29, at which time she can plead guilty or no contest, or seek a trial by pleading not guilty.
Metcalf and Jason David Hunsinger, 33, were charged by Mount Carmel Sgt. Todd Owens and Patrolman Matthew Dillman with felonies of possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, operating a methamphetamine lab and risking a catastrophe, three felony counts of criminal conspiracy, three misdemeanor counts of criminal conspiracy, and misdemeanors of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and recklessly endangering another person.
The couple were charged in connection with a raid at their home at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 28 that led to the discovery of a mobile methamphetamine lab, which prompted police to evacuate neighbors, cordon off a square block area around the residence and request a decontamination zone.
Hunsinger remains incarcerated in Columbia County Prison in Bloomsburg, where he has been detained for a probation violation since last week and is awaiting arraignment on charges. Metcalf was arraigned on the charges last week by Jones.