Jamie Lee Chris Schammel, 21, wants a confidential informant identified before he will enter a plea to murder charges in connection with a death after a methamphetamine lab explosion.

Schammel, through his defense attorney, asked District Court Judge Fred W. Wellman, the identity of a confidential informant in the criminal case be identified.

Jonathan Olson, chief deputy prosecutor for Mower County, refused to allow that, saying it was crucial to the prosecution's case.

In the courtroom Thursday morning, Olson and assistant Mower County Attorney Patrick W. Flanagan did allow one of the counts against Schammel to be amended.

The amendment came after the defense questioned the amount of drugs used as the basis for a second-degree controlled substance with the intent to sell charge filed against his client. It was amended to a third-degree charge.

Olson told Judge Wellman the prosecution was not ready Thursday to argue the motions submitted by the defense.

The judge gave the attorneys a week to submit written arguments on the issue of revealing the identify of the confidential informant and two weeks to submit arguments on the other two probable cause issues raised by the defense.

Schammel is slated to go on trial in November on third-degree murder charges and other felony counts stemming from the Jan.13, 2001, fire and explosion at a southwest Austin residence, where methamphetamine was being manufactured.

James Eric Chilson, 42, died of burns and other wounds suffered in the explosion.

Troy A. Meyer, 35, pled guilty to third-degree murder and other charges and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Schammel suffered serious wounds in the explosion and was treated at Regions Hospital burn unit in St. Paul. When he was released and returned to Austin, where he lives, he was arrested in connection with the case.

Schammel remains in the Mower County Jail, pending the outcome of the arguments which Judge Wellman will receive later this month.

Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at :mailto:lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com