One of two men arrested in connection with a portable meth lab operation was sentenced to 20 years’ probation Thursday in Mower County Court.

Daniel Keith Enfield, 19, of Austin, was convicted of third-degree drug possession, a felony. A felony drug charge for first-degree manufacturing of methamphetamines was dismissed. Enfield received a stay of imposition, pending his probation, and he must complete 80 hours of community service, as well.

Matthew Koch, 20, the other allegedly involved, previously pleaded not guilty to the same charges.

According to the court complaint, Austin police received a tip that two men were skateboarding between Wildwood and Todd Park with a backpack that contained meth-making ingredients and supplies.

An officer found the men near Mill Pond on Main Street, stopped them at the 500 block of North Main Street and searched their backpack at about 1 a.m. Oct. 24. The officer allegedly found drain cleaner, several coffee filters and tinfoil. More officers arrived, arrested both men and placed them in the Mower County jail.

The Southeast Minnesota Narcotics and Gang Task Force and lab technicians were contacted for cleanup. Two packets of tinfoil reportedly tested positive for meth. After an interview, Enfield told authorities the location of more meth-making ingredients in a wooded area between Hormel’s corporate offices and later pointed them to it. Officers also reportedly learned about a meth-making explosion in that area and that Koch may have received burns from that incident. Officers took Koch to Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin where he was treated for chemical burns and taken back to the jail.

According to the complaint, an officer stopped Koch at night and searched his backpack, which contained rubber tubing, coffee filters, camp fuel, pseudoephedrine, acid, lye, lithium batteries and an instant cold pack, which are tools and ingredients for making meth. The complaint adds Koch had a small plastic bag, straw and .1 g of meth.

Koch also faces one charge for gross misdemeanor check forgery in Mower County Court.