Cody Hodges

Two men with criminal histories in Baker County face felony drug charges connected to a meth lab discovered in Baldwin on December 7 when state probation officers checked in on Cody Eugene Hodges.

Mr. Hodges, 23, was serving six months on house arrest, to be followed by a year on probation, at the time of his arrest at the Hawkins Motel, 275 E. US 90.

The sentence was imposed November 8 after he pleaded no contest to a grand theft charge from last May. The state dropped counts of criminal mischief and burglary as part of the plea pact.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and its bomb squad responded to the motel about 9:30 am after probation and parole personnel saw drug paraphernalia in plain view inside Mr. Hodges’ motel room, according to a statement released by JSO.

Justin Hendrix

Mr. Hendrix, 32, also has a criminal history in Baker County.

Court records show he received three months probation in July, 2010 for driving on a suspended license and later violated the terms of that probation.

Mr. Hodges was released from county jail last August after serving a one-year sentence for cocaine sale and possession in May, 2010. That sentence came after he violated a previous probation for driving on a suspended license and marijuana possession in August, 2009.

Baker County court records also indicate Mr. Hodges lived in Macclenny and later in Baldwin, while Mr. Hendrix resided in Bryceville.

At the Baldwin motel room, JSO officers found crack pipes, ephedrine, hypodermic needles and various chemicals used in manufacturing methamphetamines, JSO reported.

The total bond for both men was set at $52,509 each — $25,003 on the charge of possession of amphetamines with intent to sell, $25,003 on the charge of possession of chemicals with intent to manufacture a controlled substance and $2503 on the charge of possession of drug paraphernalia, Duval County court records show.