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Hawkins County man already accused of drug trafficking facing additional charge

Published August 17th, 2009 | 1 Comments

ROGERSVILLE — A Hawkins County man already facing a drug trafficking charge was additionally charged Friday with promotion of manufacturing methamphetamine for allegedly exceeding the maximum allowable purchase of pseudoephedrine for five consecutive months.

On May 27, Eugene Russell Baugh, 31, 603 Tuggle Hill Road, was charged with possession of Schedule II narcotics (methadone) with intent to deliver.

Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit Sgt. Lynn Campbell stated in an arrest warrant that he’d been reviewing pseudoephedrine purchase logs throughout the county in May and determined that Baugh had exceeded the 9 gram maximum purchase amount for five consecutive months beginning in January and ending in May.

Pseudoephedrine, a cold and flu medicine, is also a key ingredient in the manufacture of meth. For the past couple of years the sale of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine has been regulated by the state, and exceeding the purchase limit can result in a criminal charge.

Following his May 27 arrest, Baugh was interviewed about his alleged pseudoephedrine purchases. Campbell stated in the warrant that Baugh admitted to purchasing the pseudoephedrine for the purpose of delivering it to a person who manufactures meth.

Baugh also allegedly admitted that he sold the pseudoephedrine he’d purchased for between $20 and $25 per box.

Baugh was served Friday with the warrant for promotion of manufacturing meth and remained lodged in the Hawkins County Jail Monday on $25,000 bond.

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I used to buy that stuff because it works very well on my colds, but I'm terrified that I would accidentally buy the wrong amount and get convicted of manufacturing, since now all it takes is to buy too much cold medicine and that is considered guilt in itself.

The replacement cold medicine doesn't work at all, just makes me nauseous and dizzy.

Jeremiah Jones | 8/18/2009 - 1:29 AM - ( Comment

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