MONROE — A case that began as a child-welfare concern has led to felony drug and child neglect charges for two defendants who were living in a small-town apartment building.
The multi-jurisdictional SLANT (State Line Anti-Narcotics Team) was consulted on a potential drug crime related to the case and probable cause was eventually gained to search an apartment in Gratiot, according Lafayette County Sheriff Reg Gil.
“It was originally about the kids, and then the sheriff (office) got involved,” said Gil. “We executed a search warrant…and ended up making four arrests on the case.”
Justin D. Fern, 40 of the 5800 block of Main Street, was charged with one felony count of neglecting a child under 6/disability, felony child abuse, three misdemeanor counts of neglecting a child, felony possession with intent to deliver (amphetamine/methamphetamine), felony maintaining a drug trafficking place, possession of drug paraphernalia and one misdemeanor count of battery.
Bond on Monday was set at $5,000. He faces a preliminary hearing at 3:45 p.m., Monday April 1, before Circuit Judge James Jorgenson in Lafayette County.
Leah Ann Stocks, 36, also is apparently a resident of the Gratiot apartment with Fern in the 5800 block of Main Street. She was arrested and charged with one felony count of neglecting a child under 6/disability, felony possession with intent to deliver (amphetamine/methamphetamine), felony maintaining a drug trafficking place, misdemeanor drug possession (amphetamine/psilocybin), and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
She also faces a preliminary hearing at 3:45 p.m., Monday April 1, before Jorgenson. Court records indicate she posted her $10,000 cash bond on March 26, a day after the case was filed.
Other suspects happened to be at the house when the search warrant was served and were also arrested, according to Gil.
Jon J. Simmons, 38, was charged with felony possession of drug paraphernalia to manufacture, compound, convert, produce, or store methamphetamine; felony possession with intent amphetamine/methamphetamine, felony maintaining a drug trafficking place; and two additional misdemeanors, bail jumping and possession of THC. Simmons apparently lives in another unit near the one also occupied by Fern and Stocks.
Simmons — who was given a $1,000 cash bond — faces a preliminary hearing at 2 p.m. Monday, April 1, in Lafayette County Circuit court, also before Jorgenson. As a condition of his bond, Simmons is not allowed to leave Wisconsin.
The felony possession with intent to deliver carries a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in prison, while a felony neglect of a child conviction can net a maximum of 25 years behind bars, depending on the severity and nature of the abuse.
Josh S. Simmons, 43, at 5850 Main Street, Apt. 3 in Gratiot, is in Lafayette County court at 3:45 p.m. on April 8 in front of Jorgenson. He faces two misdemeanors for possession of THC and drug paraphernalia, and one felony for maintaining a drug trafficking place.