By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

A Calera man and a Shelby man are being held in the Shelby County Jail on bonds totaling more than $250,000 apiece after they were charged with operating a methamphetamine lab in Pelham.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office arrested 38-year-old Shelby resident Claude Allen Carter and 43-year-old Calera resident Billy Ray Cagle on Jan. 19 and charged each with a felony count of first-degree manufacture of a controlled substance.

Cagle also was charged with giving false information to a law enforcement officer and delivery or sale of drug paraphernalia – second offense.

Carter also was charged with an alias warrant and one count of delivery or sale of drug paraphernalia – second offense.

According to their arrest warrants, the two men allegedly possessed methamphetamine precursors, including a shaker bottle, tubing, ammonia nitrate, drain cleaner and lithium batteries, on Jan. 19 near the intersection of U.S. 31 and Shelby County 261.

“A clandestine laboratory operation was to take place or did take place within 500 feet of a residence, place of business, church or school,” read the arrest warrants. “There was created a substantial risk to human safety or a danger to the environment.”

Unlawful manufacture of a controlled substance is a Class A felony. If convicted of the crimes, the suspects could face between 10 and 99 years in prison.