Former El Paso Teacher: Attempt to produce meth merely an “intellectual experience”

A former El Paso and Las Cruces high school teacher who pleaded guilty to charges of manufacturing and possessing meth says he never successfully produced the drug.

The Las Cruces Sun-News reported Wednesday 56-year-old John W. Gose says attempting to produce meth had been merely an “intellectual experience.”

Gose had said he had no intention of selling meth if his experiment had been successful.

A judge has ordered Gose to undergo a 60-day diagnostic evaluation before sentencing. He pleaded guilty Monday to four meth-related charges.

Las Cruces police arrested Gose last October after a traffic stop.

Officers reported finding an ice chest in Gose’s car containing tools to manufacture methamphetamines.

Police later searched his property and found meth ingredients.

Gose taught science at Camino Real Middle School from August 2013 through February 2016.

He is also taught at Irvin High School in Northeast El Paso.