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Mom & Boyfriend Face Drug, Child Abuse Charges

By Jessie Williams

A 31-year-old Lafayette mother and her boyfriend were arrested on drug and child abuse charges after officers discovered narcotics, and what is believed to be marijuana, inside their vehicle.

 

According to Macon County Sheriff Mark Gammons, he received information that a child under the age of 15 was being subjected to abuse and was being exposed to narcotics inside the home. 

“At that time detectives, along with the Department of Children’s Services, began investigating,” stated the sheriff. “After evidence was gathered concerning the child’s well-being, the district attorney’s office was contacted and presented with the information.”

The child’s mother, Wendy Whitehouse, and the mother’s boyfriend, 33-year-old Michael Johnson, were detained by the sheriffs department on Friday, April 21, on suspicion of child abuse and a drug K-9 conducted a free air search near their vehicle. 

After indicating that drugs were indeed located inside, officers performed a search of the vehicle and discovered a green, leafy substance believed to be marijuana, two smoking pipes and two pill bottles on the floorboard.

Whitehouse also offered up some additional pills she was keeping in her bra before being booked into the Macon County Jail. 

Miss Whitehouse was charged with two counts of manufacture of narcotics, possession of drug paraphernalia and aggravated child abuse/neglect of a child under 15. Her bond was set at $12,500.

Mr. Johnson was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, two counts of manufacture of narcotics, driving on a suspended license, violation of probation and child abuse. His bond was set at $13,500. 

Both are scheduled to appear in Macon County General Sessions Court on May 10, 2017. 

Sheriff Gammons added that the child was taken into custody by the Department of Children’s Services and placed with relatives for safe keeping. 

“I would like to urge anyone with information involving child abuse to contact my office,” sheriff Gammons remarked. “Help us to protect the children in our community and keep them from being subjected to dangerous living situations.”