Johnsonburg woman facing charge for allegedly endangering welfare of child

A Johnsonburg woman is currently incarcerated and facing a felony charge of endangering the welfare of children after allegedly leaving controlled substances and other drug paraphernalia in a location in her residence easily accessible by her two-year-old child.

Heather Rose Watson, 28, of 307 Spruce St., Apt. 1, Johnsonburg is in custody in relation to the mid-January incident, according to a criminal complaint filed at the office of Magisterial District Judge James L. Martin in Johnsonburg.

At 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 18, the Johnsonburg Borough Police Department assisted the Attorney General’s Elk County Drug Task Force with the execution of a search warrant at Watson’s residence. According to the affidavit of probable cause, Watson resides at the residence along with her boyfriend and two minor children.

Watson, her boyfriend, and one of the children, a two-yearold, were present at the time the search warrant was executed.

According to the affidavit, Watson and her boyfriend both displayed signs of being under the influence of a controlled substance, with Watson appearing very lethargic and slurring her words. The apartment was also described as being in disarray with clothes, toys, and dirty dishes laying around.

During the execution of the search warrant, a number of items were seized from the kitchen table: glass pipes commonly used for the ingestion of methamphetamine and marijuana, butane refill tanks, butane torches, lighters, razor blades, plastic bags, a scale, a plastic bag containing pills, and a plastic bag containing methamphetamine.

Additional illegal controlled substances, paraphernalia, and a firearm were also reportedly located in Watson’s bedroom.

According to the affidavit, the items on the kitchen table were easily accessible to the twoyear-old child. There were no gates preventing

the child from entering the kitchen, and the items were in plain view. This endangered the welfare of the child, and the controlled substances could have caused death or serious bodily injury if consumed by a small child.

Preliminary arraignment for Watson was held at 9 a.m. on Friday before Judge Martin.

Watson is facing one third-degree felony charge of endangering welfare of children – parent/guardian/other commits offense.

Bail for Watson was set at $25,000 monetary. Unable to post bail, Watson was incarcerated at Elk County Prison.

A preliminary hearing for Watson is scheduled to be held at 1 p.m. on March 1 before Judge Martin.