RALEIGH COUTNY, WV (LOOTPRESS) — A Raleigh County man is facing serious charges after deputies say a child was found sleeping in a room surrounded by drug paraphernalia during the execution of a search warrant.
According to the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, deputies executed a search warrant at a home on Bailey Court in Naoma on April 25, 2016, around 9:10 p.m. The warrant stemmed from an ongoing investigation tied to a separate case.
When officers arrived, they encountered Deric Green and Ashley Legore outside the residence. A juvenile child was reported to be inside the home, asleep.
Deputies entered the residence and immediately observed drug paraphernalia in plain view, including foil pieces, pipes, and spoons with residue. Legore told investigators that the items belonged to Green and claimed she had previously asked him to remove them from the home.
Inside a bedroom, deputies found the child asleep on a bed surrounded by multiple items of drug paraphernalia, including foil with residue, a pipe, and a container believed to contain methamphetamine. Additional items, including a needle, were also located nearby on furniture within the room.
Investigators say the items were within the child’s immediate reach, creating a potentially deadly situation. Authorities noted that some of the substances present were believed to include heroin possibly mixed with fentanyl.
Green allegedly told deputies he had placed the items on the bed prior to their arrival and did not think about the risk it posed.
He was arrested and charged with child neglect creating a substantial risk of serious bodily injury. Deputies say the exposure to the drugs and paraphernalia could have resulted in fatal consequences.
Green was transported to the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office for processing before being taken to Southern Regional Jail.
Child Protective Services was notified and a referral was filed. Authorities say the investigation remains ongoing, including a review of whether additional charges could be filed against others involved.
