Man Under House Arrest Running Meth Lab At A Home Daycare

Mississippi Ocean Springs Police say Mark Sumrall was running a meth lab in his parents' house which doubled as a daycare for kids.

by Jamie Burch

Published: Wed, November 04, 2009 - 1:23 pm CST Last Updated: Wed, November 04, 2009 - 3:42 pm CST

OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi - An Ocean Springs man is accused of running a meth lab out of his parents' house which doubled as a daycare for kids.

The Jackson County Narcotics Task Force received a tip last week that a man on house arrest was possibly making and dealing meth. They followed the lead to Mark Sumrall, a 45-year-old man who was living with his parents on Stennis Avenue.

Tuesday, agents obtained a search warrant for the home where they found two inactive meth labs and chemicals used to make the drug.

Sumrall's mom ran a daycare for 8 kids out of the home. His child also lived there. Only Sumrall’s child was present at the time of the search warrant. DHS was contacted and has taken custody of the child.

Sumrall was charged with Manufacturing Methamphetamine within 1500 feet of a daycare and 9 counts of felony child endangerment. His parents, 67-year-old Alfred and 64-year-old Brenda Sumrall, along with their caregiver, 46-year-old Carolyn Godkin, were also arrested on nine counts of felony child endangerment.

Alfred Sumrall

Brenda Sumrall

Carolyn Godkin

The parents of the eight children who attented the daycare were notified about the arrests.

If convicted, Mark Sumrall faces up to 60 years in prison and two million dollars in fines for manufacturing meth at the daycare, 30 years and one million dollars for generation of hazardous waste, and 10 years and $10,000 fine for each count of felony child endangerment.

The father, mother, and caregiver each face up to 10 years and a $10,000 fine for each count of felony child endangerment.

Because Mark Sumrall was on house arrest for a 2004 Cocaine possession charge, as well as having an additional 1992 cocaine possession charge, he could face stiffer penalties under the Habitual Offender statutes of Mississippi.

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