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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 21, 2018)
6A • COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL • NOVEMBER 21, 2018 Plea reached in butane explosion Eric L. Scully, 35, of Cot- tage Grove, Oregon, pleaded guilty today to endangering human life and illegally pos- sessing and manufacturing marijuana aft er a November 2017 butane honey oil (BHO) explosion in Cottage Grove. “Manufacturing hash oil is extremely dangerous and poses a grave risk of injury or death to producers and un- knowing, innocent victims. Federal authorities will con- tinue targeting BHO produc- ers and the illicit distribution networks providing them with butane gas. Together with our local partners, we will put an end to this severe public safety threat,” said Billy J. Williams, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “Th is investigation high- lights the signifi cant dangers that these extraction oper- ations pose,” stated Keith Weis, DEA Special Agent in Charge of the Pacifi c North- west Region. He further add- ed, “Th is explosive event in Cottage Grove’s community was caused by highly reckless criminal activities surround- ing butane honey oil (BHO) production, this time we were very lucky that lives were not lost.” According to court doc- uments, on November 16, 2017, the Cottage Grove Po- lice and Fire Departments responded to an explosion at a storage facility in Cottage Grove. Offi cers found Scully at a local hospital where he was being treated for serious burn injuries. Investigators later learned that, at the time of the ex- plosion, at least three other individuals were inside the MEDICARE OPEN ENROLLMENT BEGINS OCTOBER 15TH Do you need to Review next years choice? Call Paul to help simplify the complicated. 541-517-7362 Paul Henrichs ~ Independent Agent coverage4oregon@gmail.com COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL FILE PHOTO facility. Two days later, Cottage Grove Police and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administra- tion (DEA) agents executed a search warrant at the storage facility. Inside, they found a large, sophisticated, and un- licensed BHO extraction lab. BHO is a concentrated form of marijuana extracted using highly fl ammable or combus- tible solvents. During the search, agents found more than 1,900 pounds of marijuana bud and shake, 728 marijuana plants and over 80 pounds of mari- juana extract. Each plant was either mature or had leaves and readily observable root formation. Th e investigation deter- mined that while manufac- turing BHO, one of Scully’s machines, located in a room containing combustibles, caught fi re. Th e machine and com- bustibles exploded, injuring Scully and placing the other individuals present at sub- stantial risk of harm. Scully faces up to 40 years in prison with a fi ve-year mandatory minimum sen- tence, a $5 million fi ne and a mandatory four-year term of supervised release. Th e U.S. Attorney’s Offi ce and defense counsel are jointly recommending a non-bind- ing, 87-month sentence for Scully who will be sentenced on Feb. 21, 2019, before U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. McShane. As part of the plea agree- ment, Scully agrees to pay restitution to each victim as determined by the court, in- cluding payments for proper- ty damage, physical injuries caused by the explosion and the reimbursement of insur- ance companies. Scully also agreed to forfeit $25,980 in criminal proceeds and a pick- up truck and trailer used to facilitate his crimes. Th is case was investigat- ed by DEA and the Cottage Grove Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Gavin W. Bruce, Assistant U.S. At- torney for the District of Or- egon. American Legion to host holday bazaar Holiday A Holiday Bazaar will be held Saturday, Dec 8, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 9, from10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, 826 W. Main St. in Cottage Grove. An eclectic assortment of new, used, holiday and one-of- a-kind items will be for sale. All proceeds will stay in this community and help to fund the nonprofi t organizations of Soup’s On, which provides www. CGSintinil. com free community Sunday din- ners, and Tucker’s Cupboard, providing fi nancial aid for K9 medical needs. HOME PRIDE Painting and Repair LLC First responders arrive on scene after the BHO explosion on Nov. 16, 2017. Over 30 years of experience Schedule Now For Spring Exterior Repairs Call us for a Free Quote! “We do Christmas Lights, home repairs and decks! $50-$200 Off Interior Painting Scheduled by Dec. 15, 2018 Serving Lane & North Douglas Counties 541-735-0089 ccb# 217560 Announcing!! Thurston High School Choir’s Craft Faire Friday & & Saturday Saturday Friday 10am - - 6pm 6pm / / 10am-5pm 10am-5pm 10am THANKSGIVING WEEKEND Michili Monroi, LCSW Counseling Services 541-255-8822 1450 Birch Ave Cottage Grove, OR 97424 Hand-Crafted Items! Movies for Kids! Food! 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