A Middlesboro man was sentenced to four years in prison in Bell County Circuit Court after pleading guilty to attempting to manufacture methamphetamines.

Charles Avery Helton, 25, was indicted earlier this year on charges originally filed in June.

In addition to the charge of attempting to manufacture meth, Helton was also charged with use or possession of drug paraphernalia, use or possession of marijuana and first-degree possession of a controlled substance.

While prescription drug abuse is a more highly publicized problem, several factors unique to the production of meth have increased the proliferation of the drug in western states and in other parts of Kentucky for several years. Recipes for the homemade drug common on the Internet and passed by word of mouth, production has sky-rocketed across the state, often with deadly consequences to the health of both the user and the manufacturer.

In other circuit court news:

Brian Scott Partin, 26, of Middlesboro, pleaded guilty to four counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument; receiving stolen property (under $300) and receiving stolen property (under $300). He was sentenced to one year in prison and ordered to pay restitution. A charge of being a persistent felony offender was dismissed.

Tonya Partin Ayers, 26, of Middlesboro, pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument; receiving stolen property (under $300). She was sentenced to one year in prison and paying restitution.

Randell B. Goins, 24, of Cumberland Gap, Tenn., was sentenced to three years and six months in prison after pleaded guilty to charges in two separate drug-related cases.

In the first case, Goins pleaded guilty to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia and trafficking marijuana (less than eight ounces). Charges of first-degree possession of a controlled substance and second-degree possession of a controlled substance were dismissed. He was sentenced to two years and six months in prison in the first case.

In the second case, Goins was sentenced to a year in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree possession of a controlled substance (meth) and illegal possession of alcohol in a dry territory.

Tammy Michelle Hatfield, 36, of Pineville, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and driving on a DUI-suspended license and driving under the influence. She was sentenced to a total of five years in prison, but the sentence was probated. Under the terms of her sentence Hatfield will serve five years probation. She is ordered to stay away from alcohol and drugs and was ordered to attend a substance abuse treatment program.