CALEDONIA — A Caledonia man seriously injured in a meth lab explosion in October pleaded guilty Thursday in Houston County District Court.
Mark Kevin Link, 50, pleaded guilty to felony possession of methamphetamine precursors. In exchange for the plea, one felony count of attempted first-degree manufacture of methamphetamine was dismissed.
His sentencing has been set for April 2.
According to the criminal complaint, an investigator with the Houston County Sheriff's Office learned on Oct. 20 that a meth lab may be in a home in the 5500 block of Country Road 249 in Houston County.
When officers arrived at the house, they saw a fire extinguisher had been used in a bedroom to try to extinguish a fire. They also found charred clothing on the floor and a door frame that had bubbled due to extreme heat. There were pieces of lithium lying on the floor, which is a common ingredient for making meth. They also found ground-up white powder believed to be Sudafed tablets, a box of cold medication, printed directions for making meth and $1,730 in cash, the complaint says.
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After the fire, Link drove himself to his sister's house. She dropped him off at a hospital in La Crosse, Wis. He later was airlifted to a burn unit in Madison in critical condition.
Authorities obtained a warrant to search Link's car. Inside, they allegedly found a Coleman fuel can, a jug of muriatic acid, boxes of nasal decongestant, an empty box of cold packs, a funnel and a measuring spoon. They also found an instant cold pack that had been cut open.
