Mar 22, 2018 2 min read

A Centerville couple was arrested Wednesday by borough police on child endangerment and drug charges after a suspected marijuana grow operation allegedly was found in their home during a welfare check.

Aaron Dean Leeper, 37, and Tabitha Ann Nalbone, 32, both of 674 Old National Pike, were charged with endangering the welfare of children, possession and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and more than 200 counts of possession of paraphernalia.

Police escorted a caseworker with Washington County Children and Youth Services to the couple’s home for a well-being check. When police arrived, they said they noticed three marijuana pipes on the floor next to a 4-year-old girl.

After the homeowner gave police written consent to search the residence, a suspected marijuana grow operation with lighting and ventilation was found in the basement, police said.

Also found in the basement, according to police, were hundreds of empty stamp bags, used needles, bottles of chemicals used to grow marijuana, several buckets for marijuana plants and pipes.

Police said they then obtained a search warrant for the residence from District Judge David Mark and removed the marijuana-growing equipment, paraphernalia and drugs from the home.

The two suspects were arraigned before Mark and placed in Washington County jail on $100,000 bonds. They face a March 26 preliminary hearing before District Judge Joshua Kanalis.

It was not immediately clear who took custody of the child.