ROCKLAND – A Washington man was sentenced to 12 years in prison with all but five years and one day suspended for manufacturing methamphetamine.

Dustin Carpenter, 25, pleaded guilty Aug. 14 in Knox County Unified Court to Class A aggravated trafficking in methamphetamine. He was also placed on probation for three years.

Carpenter’s charge was Class A aggravated due to his prior convictions in Alabama.

Carpenter was arrested June 16 with Gina Glidden, 27, also of Washington. Glidden was charged with unlawful trafficking in methamphetamine and violating condition of release. Her case is currently pending.

The investigation by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency began two months ago after they had received information about Carpenter and Glidden manufacturing methamphetamine and also showing others how it was made. Agents also learned that Carpenter had come to Maine from Alabama where he had been convicted of unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance. Carpenter was currently on probation in Alabama for those charges, according to the MDEA Investigative Report.

Carpenter and Glidden were making purchases of pseudoephedrine pills at numerous pharmacies in the Midcoast, along with other components to manufacture the methamphetamine, according to court documents.

MDEA agents searched Carpenter and Glidden’s residence on Crystal Road in Washington and seized certain items from the residence including the pseudoephedrine pills, lithium batteries, ammonium nitrate, filters, and sulfuric acid.

MDEA agent Jason Pease lead the investigation with assistance from the Knox County Sheriff’s Office and the State Police.

Attorney Jonathan Handleman of the Handleman Law Firm in Brunswick represented Carpenter and Assistant Katie Sibley prosecuted the case.

Sarah Shepherd can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com