MAN CONVICTED UNDER TOUGHER METH LAW

An Oklahoma County jury has convicted the first person under a tougher
methamphetamine manufacturing law. Steven Edward Noble, 40, will have to
serve 85 percent or 421/2 years of a 50-year sentence for his conviction of
aggravated manufacturing of methamphetamine before he will be eligible for
parole.

Noble also must pay a $50,000 fine because of the law that took effect July
1, 2001.

District Judge Susan Caswell also handed Noble a 35-year sentence for his
conviction on a charge of possession of a firearm while committing a
felony, plus 10 years for his conviction of possession of a precursor
substance without obtaining a permit.

The judge on Wednesday ordered his sentences to run consecutively --
sending him to prison for 95 years.

Assistant District Attorney Ashley Altshuler called the statute the
toughest drug law on the books.

"Even for first-time offenders, they can be sentenced to 20 years,"
Altshuler said. "Even trafficking cocaine is just 10 (years) to life."

Aggravated manufacturing of methamphetamine requires at least 50 grams of
methamphetamine or 500 grams of methamphetamine mixture to be seized. The
punishment under the law calls for a minimum prison sentence of 20 years
and a maximum of life plus a fine of not less than $50,000.

"This guy will potentially never get out of prison," Altshuler said. "I
would hope it is a deterrent.

"The new law, in my opinion, reflects how serious this offense is. A judge
as well as a jury has the possibility of giving a life sentence."

In Oklahoma County, the seven prosecutors assigned to the drug team have an
estimated 170 active methamphetamine manufacturing cases pending.

The manufacturing of methamphetamines continues to be a significant problem
in Oklahoma County, Altshuler said.

"In my opinion, the number of cases is growing," he said.

Statewide, the number is remaining steady.

Kym Koch, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman, said the
number of methamphetamine laboratories seized statewide this year remains
at an estimated 1,200.

"They seem to be leveling off," she said.

Noble was convicted of manufacturing 80 grams of methamphetamine, Altshuler
said.

Police found a half-gallon container with 30 percent pure methamphetamine
oil. When converted to powder, the oil yielded 80 grams of methamphetamine
that was 65 percent pure, the prosecutor said.

The price tag for the methamphetamine was estimated at $16,000. A gram of
methamphetamine sells for about $100 on the street.

"Noble had already manufactured 80 grams of methamphetamine," Altshuler
said. "Police also found red phosphorous and pseudoephedrine."

Evidence in the trial was that police found two ounces of iodine crystals,
one gallon of iodine and five gallons of toluene.