By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — A Salisbury man who was found passed out in his car while waiting for a court appearance was found with methamphetamine in his possession, according to the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities say a search of his home revealed one-pot meth labs.

The Sheriff’s Office charged Jacob Brandon Peterson, 24, of the 3300 block of Statesville Boulevard, with felony possession of a controlled substance Schedule II; felony maintaining a dwelling or vehicle for controlled substances; misdemeanor failure to appear or comply; felony manufacturing a controlled substance Schedule I; and felony possession of a controlled substance Schedule I.

Officials said Peterson was sitting inside his white Nissan pickup in a gravel parking lot waiting for court to begin. He was to appear on pending meth charges, said Chief Deputy David Ramsey, when he was found passed out in the parking lot.

Officers found meth in his truck and got consent to search his home. They found three one-pot meth labs in the house and three HCL generators, which are used to generate gas from a tube in the meth-making process.

Agents from the SBI clandestine lab went into the house to collect evidence.

Peterson also was charged with having the precursor chemicals to make meth. Authorities said they found ammonium nitrate, lithium metal and sodium hydroxide in the house. Although Peterson shared the house with his father, officials say his father did not know about the meth labs.

Peterson remains in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $50,590 secured bond. He is expected in court for his first appearance Thursday.

Peterson was placed on 18 months’ probation in April after being convicted of possession of drug paraphernalia. He also has been convicted of assault, drug possession and driving infractions.