Back ![Benjamin J. Parson, 35, appears in Juneau Superior Court for a representation hearing on Thursday alongside his co-dendant Jennifer T. Hartsock. Prosecutors say law enforement found multiple "one-pot" meth labs in their home on Kanat-A Street in Juneau. Michael Penn / Juneau Empire](http://jun-cdn.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/superphoto/11928073.jpg "Benjamin J. Parson, 35, appears in Juneau Superior Court for a representation hearing on Thursday alongside his co-dendant Jennifer T. Hartsock. Prosecutors say law enforement found multiple "one-pot" meth labs in their home on Kanat-A Street in Juneau. Michael Penn / Juneau Empire")
![Jennifer T. Hartsock, 36, appears in Juneau Superior Court for further proceedings on Thursday alonside her co-defendant Benjamin J. Parson. Prosecutors say law enforcement found multiple "one-pot" meth labs in their home on Kanat-A Street in Juneau. Michael Penn / Juneau Empire](http://jun-cdn.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/superphoto/11928071.jpg "Jennifer T. Hartsock, 36, appears in Juneau Superior Court for further proceedings on Thursday alonside her co-defendant Benjamin J. Parson. Prosecutors say law enforcement found multiple "one-pot" meth labs in their home on Kanat-A Street in Juneau. Michael Penn / Juneau Empire")
The Juneau couple who were allegedly making methamphetamine in their house on Kanata Street are slated to stand trial in April.
Juneau Superior Court Judge Louis Menendez scheduled a 10 day trial to begin on April 22 for Jennifer T. Hartsock, 36, and Benjamin James Parson, 35.
Both codefendants pleaded not guilty to multiple felony drug charges during their arraignments on Tuesday and Thursday.
Hartsock is represented by defense attorney David Mallet and Parson is represented by the Public Defender Agency, but they are to be tried jointly unless one of their lawyers moves to sever their cases.
Alaska State Troopers say they executed a search warrant at their home on Dec. 13 and found six “one-pot” methamphetamine labs and other associated items.
Troopers allege that Hartsock and Parson, as well as three other Juneau residents, bought more than the legal amount of pseudoephedrine from various pharmacies in Juneau in order to make the meth.
Troopers began investigating the case after arresting two men in Hoonah for operating “one-pot” meth labs there.
Hartsock and Parson were indicted by a grand jury last Friday, and they are each facing three class ‘A’ felonies for drug misconduct as well as five class ‘C’ felony counts for purchasing or receiving restricted amounts of chemicals.
The maximum punishment for an ‘A’ felony is 20 years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine, and for a ‘C’ felony, five years in prison and/or a $50,000 fine.
Parson, who told the judge that he owns a welding business in Juneau, is being held in custody on $20,000 bond. Hartsock, who said she has been unemployed and looking for work for the past four months while collecting unemployment benefits, is being held on $15,000 bond.
Hartsock also told Menendez that she has three children, but her ex-husband has primary custody.
According to electronic court records, Parson does not have a prior felony conviction. Records show he was convicted of a misdemeanor last year for violating a protective order.
Court records show Hartsock does not have any prior convictions.
An omnibus hearing in the case is set for Feb. 9, and a pretrial hearing is set the week before trial for April 15.
• Contact reporter Emily Russo Miller at 523-2263 or at emily.miller@juneauempire.com.
Comments (14)
Add commentMeth
So sad. Heroin and Meth have such a vicious stronghold over Juneau. People ruining their own lives and damaging many of those around them.
Dealing misery and death...
Dealing misery and death...
3 children
They are the ones who have suffered the most, and will continue to suffer. My prayers go out to them. I hope their daddy is willing and able to insulate them from this as much as possible. How dare she even bring them up in court to garner sympathy. I wish judges would raise bail in instances like that to protect children from their parents.
What's changed
There have been several drug cases covered lately. What's changed? The reporting, the enforcement or the drug problems?
Ben Welding
Would you want a meth head welding your boat or your car frame?
Friday Meth Reports...
Why all the concern, they'll get 3 years, 2 years 9 months suspended with three months to serve then walk out of jail for time served just like the others we don't give 20 years to... Just another Friday in Juneau
I heard...
his ex-girlfriend was so crazy she drove him to do meth.
.
this towns going down the crapper gonna be like anchorage one day
Charles
Did she drive him in his truck or hers? Or did she drive him on a bicycle. Please don't tease us with one liners without telling the rest of the details.
You heard?
Really? You can't blame peoples addiction on other people. Do you even know Ben? This is a guy who would trade prescription pills for payment of business. Who would never file any sort of taxes....leaving him with lots of money. Does he have anything to show? He has unpaid bills all over Juneau. Has multiple children he does not support. Oh, that's funny, he didn't tell the judge that. Whos business had to move several times because he couldn't pay rent. Who then started selling his tools as a form of income, half that were given to him from people who supported him from the beginning before his addiction took over. Maybe that's why his ex left, maybe she didn't agree with that life style. He can only blame himself for his addiction, and the people around him that influence that type of behavior. And as for children go in this case, it's sad they have to suffer and watch their parents be put in jail because they chose drugs instead of being responsible adults. What role models. At least the her kids won't have to sit in the house under her care anymore while her and Ben smoked meth in the bathroom. I have a feeling they will be better off with their dad who can provide a stable environment, give them love and affection, and the support they need to rise above all this. As for Ben and Jen, leave them in jail. They have no priors but it's not going to stop them from future use or production. What this is going to do is teach them how to be smart about it.
As for Charles Darwin...why don't you get the panties out of a bunch before you make assumptions.
i call bull
dont you all have any sort of hobbie? wow....how do people know so much?????cause they were there............
The good news
Hey this may seem very grim but the good news is these two have a chance to be drug free now and start to put their lives back together. God loves you Jen and he forgives you. Please try to forgive yourself and do better when you get out. I am glad you get a second chance and now you can concentrate on a new life. I will be praying for you and your family.
Peace
Betsy
He's 35?
Looks mid to late 40's. I guess that's meth for ya.
Well,
Your in a better place you guys time to get back on the wagon.
Once you get out everything will be fine and not only that there sending people to the halfway house left and right. So something to look forward to is if you go to jail on a DV you don't go to the halfway house, so in a month or so you will probably be out - Fixing you :)
God bless