Lawrenceburg Now

Thursday, April 14, 2011

St. Joseph Couple Charged In Burglaries, Meth Production

   A St. Joseph couple has been jailed on charges that they were responsible for burglaries in Southern Lawrence, and on drug charges for allegedly cooking meth inside their home.        

   Reports filed through the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department show that law enforcement officers had been alerted to look for an orange truck, believed to be associated with burglaries that had occurred in that area on Monday.

   Shortly after 11:00 a.m. Tuesday deputies made their way to a home at 367 Stateline Road in response to sightings of the suspect vehicle. The reporting deputy spotted an orange truck parked behind the residence that bore Wayne County plates, and went around the home to ensure there was not another burglary in progress.

   As he approached the back door, the deputy reports resident William Thomas Clay, 39, stepped onto the porch. Once he was identified as Clay, the deputy told him he would be placing him under arrest on an outstanding warrant for violation of probation. At that point the deputy indicates Clay bolted, jumping off the back porch and fleeing into a nearby wooded area. Deputies conducted a search, but were unable to locate Clay at that time.

   Reports show that resident Brittany Leigh Duecharme, 19, came outside to speak with deputies. She told them there was a third person inside the home, and that there might be some stolen property from recent burglaries inside, as well.

   Deputies report there was a strong chemical odor emanating from the home. Inside, they discovered strewn about, several components commonly used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. Certified meth lab officers were summoned to the scene and a cleanup operation ensued.

   Once the home was deemed safe, officers reentered to collect evidence. Numerous meth components were seized, along with various items believed to have been stolen from homes on South Old Military Road, St. Joseph. Jewelry, Bibles, tools, jars of pennies and a jacket were among the items recovered.

   Deputies report Duecharme admitted she and Clay had cooked meth the previous day. She was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear and transported to the Lawrence County Detention Center.

There, deputies obtained warrants charging her and Clay with the crimes of promotion of the manufacture of methamphetamine, aggravated burglary, theft over $1,000 and vandalism.

   On Wednesday, reports show that deputies went to the home once again to find that Clay had returned. Clay was subsequently arrested and transported to the jail for processing. Clay was also booked under the additional charge of evading arrest.

   Both Clay and Duecharme are scheduled to answer the charges against them through Lawrence County General Sessions Court on Monday, May 2, 2011.

 

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