By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

MILFORD — Three people from Milford are facing charges after officers discovered drugs and paraphernalia in a home.

Joseph Wayne Shepherd, 38, 313 E. Smith St., Milford, is charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of a narcotic drug, and possession of a syringe, all level 6 felonies; possession of paraphernalia, a class C misdemeanor; and possession of methamphetamine with enhancing circumstances and possession of a narcotic drug with enhancing circumstances, both level 5 felonies.

Bobbi Jo Collier, 40, 313 E. Smith St., Milford, is charged with possession of methamphetamine and neglect of a dependent, both level 6 felonies; visiting a common nuisance and possession of marijuana, both class B misdemeanors; and possession of paraphernalia, a class C misdemeanor.

Eric Michael Maxson, 34, 313 E. Smith St., Milford, is charged with possession of methamphetamine, a level 6 felony; possession of marijuana, a class B misdemeanor; possession of paraphernalia, a class C misdemeanor; and possession of marijuana, a class A misdemeanor.

On June 9, an Indiana State Police trooper received information about Collier residing in Milford. Collier had a warrant out of Elkhart County for paraphernalia possession.

On June 12, ISP and the NET 43 Drug Task Force went to Collier’s residence. A NET 43 detective noticed Collier and Maxson smoking something but was unsure of what it was.

According to court documents, while walking through the home, officers found a young child in a room with trash, clothes and debris laying everywhere. There was also animal feces and urine covering the floor, with the odor described as overwhelming.

Collier told officers there were marijuana bowls and paraphernalia in a shed on the property. She and Maxson both admitted to using marijuana. Shepherd, who was in the home at the time, said both he and Maxson visited the shed on occasion.

Officers gave Collier a drug test which indicated she used meth in the last 12 to 24 hours. She told officers there may be a meth pipe in her bedroom.

Indiana Department of Child Services workers came to the home and contacted a relative of the child to pick them up.

Upon further searching the residence and shed, officers found drug paraphernalia, multiple plastic bags, meth residue, and marijuana residue. In Shepherd’s bedroom, officers found 10 used syringes, one of which contained heroin, and drug paraphernalia.

Maxson has prior convictions for meth possession and marijuana dealing. Shepherd has prior convictions for dealing meth, and possessing meth and a controlled substance. Collier has a prior conviction for paraphernalia possession.

Shepherd was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on Aug. 1. Maxson has a pretrial conference at 3 p.m. Monday, Aug. 21, in Kosciusko Circuit Court. Collier has a pretrial conference at 3 p.m. Sept. 18, in Kosciusko Circuit Court.