An Austin man convicted on a murder charge six years ago for his part in a deadly methamphetamine flash fire pleaded guilty to a separate drug charge Monday.

Jamie Lee Chris Schammel, 29, pleaded guilty to one count of felony fifth-degree drug possession for 56 grams of marijuana found in his Mapleview residence during a September police search.

Authorities also found a scale, as well as a cell phone that contained text messages related to drug trafficking.

For the offense, Schammel was sentenced to 17 months in a St. Cloud correctional facility, which will run concurrent to the 115 months he received in 2003.

Schammel pleaded guilty in January of that year for contributing to the death of James Erick Chilson, 42, who died of severe burns to more than 90 percent of his body.

According to records, Schammel, Chilson and Troy Alan Meyer, 43, were making meth in the basement of the home occupied by Chilson, his girlfriend and the woman’s 4-year old son in the early morning hours of Jan. 13, 2001.

When an Austin police officer parked his car in an alley behind the 1009 11th Ave. SW residence — on an unrelated activity — the occupants noticed the vehicle.

They panicked and attempted to dump the materials, including highly flammable fuel, down a basement drain.

The pilot light on a nearby water heater or cigarettes left in an ash tray by the cookers ignited the flash fire and a subsequent explosion, according to police.

Meyer escaped injury and took the finished drug product and raced from the scene, eluding officers. He was later sentenced to 12 years in prison for his role in the incident.

Though injured, Schammel ran to the home of his girlfriend nearby.

Chilson was taken to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, where he died six weeks after the incident. Schammel was also treated and released from Regions.

At his March 2003 sentencing, Schammel expressed remorse for the incident.

“I apologize to the community and to the Chilson family and to my own family,” he said.