Recently, authorities rescued two young children from a home in Pennsylvania due to its extremely unsanitary conditions. The parents of the children were apprehended on drug-related charges in connection with the incident.
Jessica Walters, aged 35, is facing multiple charges including endangering the welfare of children, recklessly endangering another person, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Similarly, Robert Nochella, also 35, has been charged with endangering the welfare of children, recklessly endangering another person, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and criminal use of a communication facility.
Detectives were asked to accompany a supervisor with Monroe County Children and Youth on a home visit because the supervisor was concerned that Walters was using fentanyl around the children, WFMZ reported.
The detectives noted that the house in deplorable condition, the chidlren were at risk, and Walters was apparently in active fentanyl withdrawal.
Walters and Nochella consented to a search, and the officers found a significant amount of drug paraphernalia, including a digital scale and packaging materials.
Walters was arrested, but Nochella told detectives he didn’t know about any of the drug paraphernalia and didn’t use drugs himself. After Walters’ arrest, however, a search of her phone uncovered text messages between the two that showed him communicating with her about sale and distribution of heroin and fentanyl.
They returned to the home the next day and confronted Nochella, with Children and Youth Services taking the 7- and 3-year-old children from the home.
Nochella admitted that after Walters’ arrest, he had a neighbor watch the children while he drove to Patterson, New Jersey, to buy heroin/fentanyl and even sold some of it when he got back to the home.
He claimed that he bought the drugs from New Jersey because they were cheaper there and Walters’ habit was expensive. He sold the drugs to “get ahead” on finances,” the affidavit said.
He turned over the remaining drugs to police and was arrested.
Preliminary hearings are set for both on February 19.
