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Pair accused of growing marijuana inside home with babies present

TROUTMAN, N.C. — An Iredell County man and woman have been arrested after two children under the age of one were exposed to several different illegal drugs, deputies say.

The Iredell County Sheriff's Office said deputies obtained a search warrant of a home on Pilch Road on May 2 after receiving numerous complaints from neighbors.

Officials said when deputies searched the house, they found a growing marijuana operation along with other forms of drug paraphernalia.

(Joseph Watson Perrigan, left, Jamie Dawn Hill, right)

Two children, ages 3 months and one year old, were in the house during the search.

Deputies said they arrested and charged 29-year-old Jamie Dawn Hill and 36-year-old Joseph Watson Perrigan.

CHARGES THEY FACE: 

Jamie Hill: 

  • Felony manufacturing marijuana
  • Felony maintaining a dwelling place to sell or use controlled substances
  • Misdemeanor possession of a schedule II controlled substance
  • Misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia
  • Misdemeanor possession of marijuana paraphernalia

Joseph Perrigan:

  • Felony manufacturing marijuana
  • Felony maintaining a dwelling place to sell or use controlled substances
  • Misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia
  • He was also served with an outstanding warrant for an arrest in addition to a fugitive warrant

Deputies said they also arrested Christopher Dale Troutman for an outstanding warrant relating to selling drugs. He was also charged with possession of a schedule III controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Authorities said they got confirmation on May 14 the children were exposed to several different illegal drugs.

Hill and Perrigan were then both charged with two counts of misdemeanor child abuse and two counts of misdemeanor contribute to the delinquency of a juvenile by neglect.