A former Warminster man arrested by U.S. Marshals after being on the lam for more than a year for blowing up a meth lab in a basement of an occupied apartment is headed to state prison for 15 to 30 months, with the sentence to be served in “a therapeutic community.”
Jason Nunez, 43, of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty in November 2025 to 10 felonies and misdemeanors related to the explosion and fire on May 21, 2024. Nunez pleaded to felony counts of operating a meth lab, depositing and storing chemical waste illegally, risking catastrophe, possession of phenylpropanotamine with intent to manufacture, and manufacture with intent to deliver, as well as three misdemeanor charges of recklessly endangering another person, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and knowingly possessing ephedrine, according to court records.
On the felony meth lab charge, Nunez was given 15 to 30 months, followed by 60 months, or 5 years, of probation, at the March 31 sentencing, per court records. Nunez will get credit for time served since June 16, 2025. No other consequences were given for the additional guilty pleas.
According to the criminal docket, the court “recommends the sentence be served in a Therapeutic Community.”
Bucks County Common Pleas Court Judge Wallace Bateman Jr. accepted the plea and decided the sentencing.
The U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force apprehended Nunez last spring in Philadelphia, after he alluded authorities for more than a year.
Warminster police had been searching for Nunez since they saw him coming upstairs from his basement apartment in the 700 block of Lillian Lane as firefighters were battling a blaze and searching for other occupants.
When police went into the basement, they saw smoke in the bathroom area and a soaking wet carpet, according to a probable cause affidavit. Firefighters also found active fire in the walls.
Another resident of the home told police that Nunez was burning something in the downstairs bathroom. A third resident went to investigate banging noises and saw Nunez was trying to extinguish fire, the affidavit said.
Nunez told one resident that he was cleaning when the fire started.
The Warminster fire marshal and police determined that the fire was sparked by someone attempting to make methamphetamine in the bathroom, the affidavit said. The fire was ruled as accidental.
Among the evidence collected included suspected drug lab materials in the trash bags Nunez left outside the home.
The Pennsylvania State Police and members of its clandestine lab response team issued a report that noted the presence of lithium batteries, and chemicals associated with methamphetamine.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
