GRIFTON — The ground surrounding the residence of 4906 Tick Bite Rd. is littered with trash and the remnants of life with children — a bicycle and stroller in the front yard, an empty box of diapers atop an open garbage can in the back yard.
No one lives at the house now, and no one ever will, since Lenoir County officially condemned the home on Thursday.
Tuesday, representatives with the Lenoir County Department Social Services — assisted by Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office narcotics detectives — responded to the home after a complaint regarding drugs and child endangerment.
Detectives found what they believe are ingredients and byproduct of methamphetamine.
“One of the suspects confessed to the making of methamphetamine in there,” Sheriff Chris Hill said. “We do not think it is a methamphetamine lab designed to make meth for sale. It was for personal use.”
Anthony Steven Everett, 28, and Ashley Nicole Gower, 26, are both charged with possession of a methamphetamine precursor, manufacturing methamphetamine, maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance and child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury, all felonies.
They both received $100,000 bonds and were placed into the Lenoir County Detention Center.
Everett was on probation at the time of his arrest for larceny by employee in Pitt County and charges of violation of vehicle registration and a motor vehicle violation in Lenoir County. He also received probation after convictions on assault on a female in October 2004 and September 2005.
Gower has unresolved cases in Pitt County regarding disturbing the peace at a school and violation of compulsory school attendance laws.
Vernon Mitchell, a neighbor residing just up the road, tended to his garden Thursday morning. He said he was unaware of anything of the like going on at the residence.
“It surprised me,” Mitchell said.
The children, a 9-year-old boy and a 9-month-old girl, were in a relative’s care at the time.
The child abuse charge, Hill said, were because authorities found injuries on the children that should have been tended to and were not.
“If the children have injuries that have not been cared for, we have to determine where those injuries occurred from, who committed those acts to cause those injuries — we need to look at that,” Hill said. “That’s why DSS is a part of this.”
Monica Williams, assistant director for social work services at the Lenoir County DSS, said she couldn’t comment directly on the case but discussed what typically happens with investigations that have a narcotics component.
“Drug use is a common denominator, and the families that we investigate — we can get drug use reports probably weekly,” Williams said. “But, meth labs are a little bit different. We have not had that many, but they are increasing.
“This year, we have probably had five or six reports already, where it was alleged to be an active meth lab.”
Williams said following a medical evaluation and treatment of children involved in a case like this one, they would be turned over to DSS for the determination if they should be placed back with their parents, put in the care of a relative or placed into foster care.
After detectives found evidence of the manufacture of methamphetamine, they called in the State Bureau of Investigation Clandestine Laboratory Response Team to clean and dispose of dangerous chemicals.
Lenoir County EMS, the Lenoir County Fire Marshal’s Office and the Hugo Volunteer Fire Department also responded to the scene.
The next day after authorities responded to the scene on Tick Bite Road, Jones County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested a Goldsboro man on U.S. 70 near the Cove City exit, seizing 6.5 grams of methamphetamine, meth precursors and prescription drugs.
Brian Madison Cherry, 33, was charged with felony possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, felony possession of meth precursors, misdemeanor simple possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, misdemeanor simple possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance and felony maintaining a vehicle for controlled substances.
Cherry was released after arrest on a $10,000 unsecured bond.
Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 and Wes.Wolfe@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter @WolfeReports.