State Police said a Lincoln County
man previously accused of growing marijuana in a residence with children
present is charged with leaving four children in a home unattended.
Joseph Michael Peterson, 38, of Alum Creek is charged with four counts of child
neglect resulting in risk of injury, according to a criminal complaint filed in
Lincoln County Magistrate Court.
State Police said a trooper traveled to Itty Bitty Road in Yawkey Saturday to
serve arrest warrants on Peterson. When the officers approached, Peterson fled
out the back door, the complaint said. In a window of the second story of the
residence, the trooper noticed four children left unattended. The kids said
Peterson left the residence to help an uncle whose vehicle was stuck on the
driveway leading up to the home. State Police said the suspect ran into the
woods instead and could not be located by the troopers.
In April, Peterson was charged with possession with intent to deliver and child
neglect resulting in risk of injury after State Police said they found 70
plants believed to be marijuana growing inside Peterson’s residence on Childress Road in
Alum Creek. Several of the plants were 2 to 3 feet tall.
State Police said at the time they did not believe the environment was safe for
children and referred the case to Child Protective Services.
Peterson was being held Monday in the Western Regional Jail on $64,000 bond.
