Crystal methamphetamine, other illegal drugs, drug paraphernalia and several firearms were found at two Harrogate residences Wednesday evening, according to a news release from the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office.
The release states that Sheriff David Ray, along with Assistant District Attorney Matthew McClung, Claiborne and Campbell County SWAT team members and members of the Eighth Judicial Drug Task Force conducted a search at 344 and 352 Forge Ridge Road after obtaining a warrant. The search warrant was issued as the result of an ongoing investigation.
Seven adults were located inside the residences and two small children, ages nine months and two years old, were left unattended in an unoccupied vehicle located in the driveway of the residence, according to the release.
Both children were examined by Claiborne County EMTs before the Claiborne County Department of Children’s Services was contacted and they were placed into emergency protective custody, the release states.
The parents of the children were identified as Steven Roesch, 25, and Tessa Laws, 25. They were both charged with aggravated child abuse and neglect. Laws was also charged with possession of methamphetamine. Several vehicles along with illegal drugs were seized from the residence during the search of the residences.
Ray stated that additional charges are expected pending the ongoing investigation.
“I, along with the District Attorney’s office, thank the continuing support of the community providing information resulting in the arrests and prosecution of criminals within Claiborne County,” Ray stated. “Any and all information given from the community will be held confidential and investigated.”
