By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – A 23-year-old Alabaster man could face up to life in prison if he is convicted on charges of manufacturing meth and illegally transporting it in his vehicle.

The Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force arrested Joshua Ray Simpson, who lists an address in the 100 block of Smokey Road, on Aug. 16 and charged him with one felony count of manufacturing a controlled substance and misdemeanor charges of operating a vehicle without insurance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to his arrest warrants, Simpson allegedly manufactured methamphetamine using a “clandestine laboratory operation,” and allegedly transported methamphetamine in his vehicle in the 2000 block of Shelby County 260 in Pea Ridge on Aug. 16.

As of Aug. 20, Simpson was being held in the Shelby County Jail on bonds totaling $151,000. He is scheduled to appear in Shelby County Circuit Court at 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 10, according to court documents.

Manufacturing a controlled substance is a Class A felony, according to Alabama law. If convicted of the crime, Simpson could face between 10 years and life in prison.