Woman charged in connection with husband's meth lab

A 43-year-old Columbia Falls woman pleaded not guilty in Flathead County District Court on July 31 to a felony charge of possessing a precursor chemical used to make methamphetamine.

The charge stemmed from a Jan. 4 incident in which Beverly George reported a physical disturbance involving her husband, George Burger.

George told responding officers that her husband had left in a black Ford Bronco. A deputy spotted the Bronco in a ditch while responding to the call and arrested Burger. During booking, Burger was found in possession of a “snort” tube with a white powdery residue.

George also told deputies that Burger had a meth lab in a red van parked on the property. Officers with a search warrant allegedly found pseudoephedrine blister packs, a bottle of drain cleaner, coffee filters, beakers, a plate with white residue, and a Pyrex cup with white residue.

Burger, 44, pleaded not guilty on Jan. 30 to charges of operating a clandestine methamphetamine lab as well as ramming George’s car in July 2013 and stealing a raft and other items from a garage in September 2012.

At his arraignment, Burger admitted to having been convicted of a misdemeanor drug crime in 1993, theft in 1995 and receipt of stolen property in 2003. He argued, however, that he needed to be released so he could take care of his 23-year-old autistic son and his two younger children, 11 and 13.

Northwest Drug Task Force agents interviewed George on June 19. She admitted purchasing pseudoephedrine, a precursor for meth production, and sales logs at Smith’s Foods in Columbia Falls showed George had purchased the drugs six times in November and December 2013.

George faces up to 20 years in prison and a $50,000 fine if convicted. Burger faces up to 10 years if convicted of criminal endangerment, 10 years if convicted of theft, and 40 years if convicted of the meth lab charge.