STROUD TOWNSHIP, MONROE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)— Two people have been arrested after children found living in deplorable conditions with fentanyl in the home, according to Monroe County District Attorney Mike Mancuso.
Police arrested Jessica Walters and Robert Nochella, both 35 and of Stroud Township, on various drug and child endangerment charges.
Mancuso states that detectives were called to respond alongside Monroe County Children and Youth (MCCY) to a residence located on the 200 block of Cranberry Road on February 6 after a supervisor was concerned that Walters was using fentanyl in the home around children.
Officials state that when when detectives arrived at the home, the home was found to be in "deplorable conditions".
Walters advised police that she was in the process of disposing of the paraphernalia in her bedroom because of the impending visit with children and youth, according to the release
Detectives got consent to search the home, from Walters and Nochella, and with assistance from Stroud Area Regional Police, they found large amounts of drug paraphernalia, a scale, and packaging materials in the bedroom Walters.
The complaint states that Walters admitted to purchasing heroin every day even with her children home.
Officials then learned that Nochella was not a drug user and claimed he was unaware of the drugs in the house, but police found messages on his phone with Walters that showed otherwise.
Authorities say the messages showed that not only was Nochella had a second phone, and was not only aware of the drugs, but that he was communicating with her about the sale and distribution of the fentanyl/heroin.
Monroe County Children and Youth were advised by the detective to remove the children from the home on the morning of February 7.
When MCCY and detectives arrived to the home that morning Nochella was missing from the home, before a babysitter told him to return citing that police were at the residence.
Officials say Nochella was then taken back into custody after admitting to detectives he made a trip to Patterson, NJ to pick up fentanyl/heroin on the night of February 6 after detectives left.
Nochella said he did this because Walters habit got so expensive he decided to drive to New Jersey to get the drug cheaper to support Walters' habit along with selling it to get ahead on rent and bills, according to the complaint.
Mancuso states that a customer even picked up 7-8 bags of the fentanyl/heroin from Nochella on February 6.
Nochella was arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of children, recklessly endangering another person, and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance among other charges.
Walters was arrested with endangering the welfare of children, recklessly endangering another person, and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, Walter’s was arrested in on February 6, 2025 and lodged at Monroe County Correctional Facility pending arraignment.
Both individuals are scheduled to appear for preliminary hearings at MDJ Paul Gasper’s Court at 10am on February 19th, 2025.