A couple who operated a methamphetamine lab in their home in Lansford and who endangered their child when she ingested meth and was hospitalized were both sentenced to prison terms on Thursday in Carbon County court - he to a state prison and she to the county prison.

Joseph Michael Navarre, 42, now of Coaldale, and Melissa Dorothy O'Brien, 23, of Lansford, were sentenced by Judge Joseph J. Matika.Navarre was sentenced to serve a total of 27 months to six years in a state correctional institution while O'Brien was sentenced to serve a total of 10 to one day less 24 months in the county prison, followed by one year of probation.Navarre previously pleaded guilty to one count each of operating a methamphetamine lab and endangering the welfare of a child. O'Brien previously pleaded to one count each of possession with intent to manufacture a controlled substance and endangering the welfare of a child.Both were originally charged with operating a meth lab, unlawful manufacture of meth in a structure with children under age 18 present, liquified ammonia gas and chemicals, endangering welfare of children, recklessly endangering another person, and two counts each of aggravated assault. All the charges were dropped except for the counts both entered pleas to.Another child and adults also lived in the residence, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed by police.According to arresting officer Sgt. Jack Soberick, who is now chief of police, the case stems from incidents which happened between Dec. 31, 2015, and Jan. 5.According to the affidavit filed by Soberick, officer James Bonner indicated to him on Dec. 31 that there was the possibility of a meth lab at the residence of Navarre and O'Brien.On Jan. 5, Soberick said he received a report indicating that a 7-month-old child was admitted to the Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, "after reportedly ingesting a Tide laundry detergent pod." He said in the affidavit that further testing revealed the baby "ate or ingested methamphetamine."As a result the child was turned over to the care of Carbon County Children and Youth Services.Soberick obtained a search warrant for the residence. The affidavit said, "Upon making entry to this residence, discovered on the second floor rear bedroom, which was the room occupied and shared by the listed co-defendant, were several plastic bottles with vinyl tubing attached."These bottles were recognized from my training and experience as an item known as a 'gas generator'; and are a component of the production of methamphetamine."Numerous other items related to the manufacture of methamphetamine was also found in the house, Soberick said.O'BrienDefense Attorney Gregory Lee Mousseau, of the public defender's office, said his client was easily led by Navarre. He also said she has mental health issues. He said in addition to the child involved in the endangering case, O'Brien has another child. Both are currently in foster care.O'Brien asked Matika to sentence her to time-served or house arrest. She said, "I want to say I'm sorry. I do understand what I did. I want to work to get my kids back." She also said she didn't fully realize what was going on at time.Assistant District Attorney Brian Gazo took issue with O'Brien's request for a time served or house arrest sentence. He said she signed a plea agreement in which the minimum term of imprisonment was to be at least nine months and in exchange for that agreement more serious charges were dropped that certainly would have placed her in a state prison.Gazo said, "I believe she knew what was going on." He added, "This was a serious situation, a child ended up in the hospital."Matika said in reviewing the presentence investigation report prepared by the adult probation office, "One thing jumps out at me." He said O'Brien's version of what happened denies her involvement.He said to O'Brien shared a bedroom with Navarre and various items used in the making of meth were found in that bedroom. He said, "You didn't know what those items were?"Matika added another thing that bothered the court was her denial of her part in the incident. He said, "I don't believe that," adding she knew what was going on.In addition to the jail term, Matika ordered O'Brien to get both drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations, must supply a DNA sample, zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use, render 100 hours of community service when release on parole, attend parenting classes, pay restitution of $647.48, pay court costs of about $1,000, pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on parole and probation, and have no unsupervised contact with her children.She was given credit for 149 days already spent in prison on the charges.NavarreNavarre told the court his part in the lab was driven by a drug addiction problem that began as a casual user to more serious drugs.When asked by Matika if O'Brien knew what was going on, he responded, "Pretty well she knew everything."Gazo said Navarre admitted to taking the lead role in the operation of the meth lab and that cooperation was one of the reasons the plea bargain was reached to drop some of the other felony counts.Matika questioned Navarre on a statement in the PSI report in which he said the child did not ingest the meth but got ill from contact with Navarre.Matika said, "I don't buy that. You had the meth laying around and that is how the child got it. The child had it in his system."Matika said the actions of Navarre and O'Brien endangered not only themselves and the child but the neighborhood and the neighbors.The prison term includes two to four years on the operation charge and three to 24 months on the endangering count running consecutively.In addition to the jail term Navarre was ordered to render a total of 150 hours of community service when paroled, supply a DNA sample, get a drug and alcohol evaluation, zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use, pay court costs of about $1,000, make restitution of $647.49 and have no unsupervised contact with his children.He was given credit for 149 days spent in prison on the charges.