By Josh Bergeron

josh.bergeron@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — A southern Rowan man is facing new felony drug charges in connection with manufacturing methamphetamine.

A warrant served over the weekend shows Rowan County resident John Lowell Hopkins Jr., 40, is facing a charge of trafficking methamphetamine. The felony charge adds to the list he was already facing after a meth lab bust in March.

In March, sheriff’s deputies and other law enforcement agencies shut down a meth lab located just outside of Landis, at 179 Sechler St. As a result of the bust, Hopkins was charged with two counts of possession of immediate precursor chemicals, maintaining a dwelling and manufacturing a controlled substance.

Inside the 179 Sechler St. location, officers found gas generators, materials used to make methamphetamine, methamphetamine oil and batches of already finished methamphetamine.

The warrant served over the weekend, which was issued on May 2, alleges that Hopkins manufactured 400 grams or more of methamphetamine. A total of 400 grams of meth would be close to 1 pound.

Messages left with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office about the charge were not returned on Sunday.

In 2005, Hopkins was convicted of possession of immediate precursor chemicals and felony possession of a schedule two controlled substance.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246