A Saskatoon chemistry student accused by police of running a clandestine explosives lab out of his parents’ garage will not have his name marred by a criminal record.

Lewis Samuel Casey, 19, has pleaded guilty to charges under Canada’s Explosives Act and been ordered to pay a $3,000 fine.

The Crown withdrew criminal charges on Oct. 13.

Casey was 18 when Saskatoon police charged him with criminal offences following a raid on a garage at his home last December. He was also charged with producing methamphetamine, a highly addictive street drug, but the Crown stayed that charge shortly after Casey’s arrest.

At the time of the raid, police said they seized numerous chemicals and paraphernalia that may be associated with production of highly explosive and improvised explosive devices.

But in an interview Saturday, his defence lawyer said police completely overreacted.

“I must say the whole police investigation was blown enormously out of proportion,” Nick Stooshinoff told CBC News.

“It was based on an anonymous tip that this kid had, or somebody had purchased these items and that these items could be used in a crystal meth lab,” he added.

Casey, who up until his arrest studied chemistry at the University of Saskatchewan, was actually using the chemicals for experiments, Stooshinoff said.

Stooshinoff said Casey’s pleading guilty to non-criminal charges came about after a deal was reached with the Crown.

“There was no criminal basis for the charges in the first place,” Stooshinoff said.

The deal means Casey will not have a criminal record, and can now return to university.