After 31-year-old James McDaniel was convicted on a whole slew of charges associated with a meth lab found in the basement of home in 2003, his cousin just now faces charges associated with the same crimes.

44-year-old Anthony McDaniel who has been living in Michigan and made a court appearance here in Reno County this week where he was read the formal complaint against him filed by the state.

He faces charges of the manufacture of methamphetamine, or in the alternative, attempted manufacture of meth, possession of ephedrine, lithium batteries, anhydrous ammonia, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

It was on October 30, 2003, when police were called to the residence at 1314 North Washington on the report of a disturbance. They found 31-year-old James McDaniel and his girlfriend outside the residence waiting for them. McDaniel told police that his cousin Anthony had hurt his girlfriend and also told of the possible meth lab in the basement, blaming his cousin for it being. Officers obtained a search warrant and found the meth lab. But, they also found items consistent with that lab in James McDaniel’s bedroom. He argued at trial that it wasn’t his and someone must have placed those items there.

The jury didn’t buy it and he was convicted for basically the same charges as his cousin is accused of and ordered to prison for 80-months. He’s eligible for parole in January of next year and is currently on work release through the Hutchinson Correctional Facility. He’s also serving time for burglary, forgery and possession of drugs convictions. Plus, he had served time for indecent liberties with a child going back to a case from 1999.

His cousin, Anthony McDaniel wasn’t arrested in the case until now and his bond was set at 30-thousand dollars during the court appearance. He’ll be back in court on January 28, as part of a waiver-status docket.

The state can still proceed with the prosecution because the case was filed within the statute of limitations which we learned for this crime is 5-years, not 10. We apoligize for the error.