Plant City parents accused of cooking meth while kids were present face federal charges

TAMPA — Federal prosecutors charged a Plant City couple Friday with manufacturing methamphetamine in a home they shared with their three children.

A domestic dispute report brought Hillsborough deputies to the home of Matthew and Beth Cantin, both 35, at 5318 Lenoir Court on Feb. 15, a U.S. Attorney's news release said.

Officers said, they saw chemicals used to make meth and hardware to cook it in a "one pot" system inside the Cantin's garage, the news release said.

Three children — ages 6 months to 9 years — live with the Cantins, and deputies say they were present when the Cantins cooked meth, which can result in toxic fumes and explosions.

Both parents were arrested on Feb. 15 and later released.

They now face the federal charge of conspiring to manufacture methamphetamine on premises where children were present or resided. The maximum penalty is 40 years in prison.