Four arrested and four cited when a runaway investigation turns into a drug bust. The Charlestown Police Department, during the course of investigating the whereabouts of a reported 16 year old missing juvenile female, received information that the runaway was visiting a residence located at 1405 Rosewood Drive, Lot #23, in Charlestown. At approximately 10:00 p.m., Sunday (5/6/01) Officers Greg Phillips and Darren Baker arrived at 1405 Rosewood, lot #23 to find the missing 16 year old female, with seven adult males and one adult female, inside the residence. Upon identifying the missing juvenile and taking her into custody, officers found in plain view, substantial evidence of drug use in that the residence was full of marijuana smoke. Officers immediately obtained a search warrant for the residence and found a small amount of marijuana as well as several pills of ecstasy and other controlled substances believed to be either LSD or another Schedule I substance. The exact identification of some of the substances is still under investigation. The two residents of Lot #23, 27 year old Paul G. Witten, and 20 year old Jeremy Kern, were arrested and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance within 1,000 feet of school property (Class C Felony), Dealing in Marijuana within 1,000 feet of school property (Class C Felony), Maintaining a Common Nuisance (Class D Felony), and Possession of Marijuana (Class A Misdemeanor). The residence, 1405 Rosewood, Lot #23, is located adjacent to Pleasant Ridge Elementary School, which Indiana State Law provides stiffer penalties for possession and/or dealing of illegal drugs within 1,000 feet of school property, a public park, a family housing complex, or on a school bus. An adult female, 20 year old Kristina Williams, of Charlestown, was also arrested and charged with Visiting a Common Nuisance and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, after officers learned that she was accompanied by the runaway juvenile upon her arrival to the residence. All three adults arrested were transported to the Clark County Jail, in Jeffersonville. Four other adults at the residence, 19 year old James Strickland, of Jeffersonville, 19 year old William Meredith, of Charlestown, 20 year old Eric Meredith, of Charlestown, and 22 year old Jonathan Gaddis, of Charlestown were all issued citations to appear in court and answer the charge of Visiting a Common Nuisance, a Class B Misdemeanor. The runaway juvenile was arrested and additionally charged with Illegal Consumption by a Minor and Visiting a Common Nuisance; then transported to the Clark County Juvenile Detention Center, in Jeffersonville. Visiting a Common Nuisance (IC 35-48-4-13) is defined by Indiana Code as "A person who knowingly or intentionally visits a building, structure, vehicle, or other place that is used by any person to unlawfully use a controlled substance, commits visiting a common nuisance".

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