CLERK CONVICTED OF SELLING METH INGREDIENT

ENID -- A convenience store clerk has been convicted of selling an
over-the-counter decongestant used to make methamphetamine. Claude Allen
McFalls, 70, sold 10 bottles of cold medicine to an undercover police
officer at Mac's Mart No. 1 in Enid. He was convicted Wednesday of unlawful
sale of precursor substances.

McFalls could face up to 10 years in prison.

McFalls testified that he did not hear most of what Sgt. Kevin Morris said
to him during the sale last August. The clerk said he would not have sold
the pills if he understood the officer intended to use them to manufacture
methamphetamine.

Morris said McFalls initially refused to sell him more than five bottles of
pseudoephedrine tablets, even though he complained he could not cook up
much dope with that many pills.

"I said, 'It's kind of hard to make meth when you can only get five bottles
at a time,'" Morris said.

McFalls eventually consented to sell Morris another five bottles if he went
out to his car for a few minutes then re-entered the store, the narcotics
officer said.

Selling pseudoephedrine is not illegal unless the seller knows it is
intended to be used for manufacturing methamphetamine.

McFalls was one of seven people arrested Aug. 22, 2002, on charges of
illegally selling pseudoephedrine.

McFalls' sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 2.