A former high school science teacher in Las Cruces, New Mexico has pleaded guilty to manufacturing and possessing methamphetamine, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
John W. Gose, 56, of San Miguel was arrested October 2, 2016 during a traffic stop in which officers became suspicious after noticing a styrofoam ice chest containing glassware, chemicals, and rubber tubing – all items which can be used to manufacture meth.
During a subsequent search of Gose’s property, more laboratory equipment and chemicals indicating illegal activity was turned up. Investigators determined that Gose was in possession of enough ingredients to manufacture at least a pound of methamphetamine, with an estimated street value of over $44,000.
Gose pleaded guilty to two counts of trafficking methamphetamine by manufacturing, one count of possession of a controlled substance, as well as and possession of drug paraphernalia.
According to the District Attorney’s office, Gose taught science for over eight years in El Paso, TX until 2008, after which he moved to Las Cruces, NM to teach at Oñate High School and then Camino Real Middle School until February of 2016.
After pleading guilty, Gose – who faces over 20 years in prison, was ordered into a 60-day diagnostic evaluation by the New Mexico Department of Corrections prior to sentencing.
District attorney Mark D’Antonio issued a statement:
That the defendant in this case chose to plead guilty to all of the charges is a testament to the strength of the investigation.
Thanks to the hard work of the Las Cruces Police Department, the New Mexico State Police and the prosecutors in this office, we are able to close the books on this case of life imitating art while saving the taxpayers of New Mexico the cost of a jury trial.
Gose’s case bears a resemblance to the AMC hit show Breaking Bad, which follows the exploits of an Albuquerque high school science teacher Walter White, played by Bryan Cranston. After being diagnosed with terminal cancer, White teams up with high school student Jesse Pinkman to manufacture methamphetamine, becoming a drug kingpin in the process. Fortunately or unfortunately for Gose, his meth manufacturing days have come to an abrupt end.
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