Louisiana couple with young children arrested at hotel on charges of possession, disturbing the peace

MONROE, La. (TCD) --

A husband and wife were arrested over the weekend after allegedly using methamphetamine in close proximity to their children, authorities said.

According to a Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office probable cause affidavit, deputies saw a car with "a large amount of personal property thrown about the ground" parked in the back of a lot at the OYO Hotel in Monroe on Sunday, June 27.

Deputies reportedly approached the vehicle and heard a man, later identified as Joshua Chelette, yelling at children who were in the back seat of the car.

Joshua Chelette's probable cause affidavit says he was "unsteady on his feet" and "appeared to be agitated. Chelette was changing a rear tire on the car. The affidavit alleges Joshua "threatened to batter the children if they did not stop playing."

Deputies arrested him on a charge of disturbing the peace.

They were then approached by Joshua's wife, Casey Chelette, who was reportedly "extremely unsteady on her feet" and her words were "extremely slurred."

A probable cause affidavit says Casey told deputies there were "numerous unwanted guests" in their hotel room, and she gave them permission to search the room.

When the Ouachita Parish deputies entered, they reportedly found two hypodermic needles filled with liquid in a brown box.

Deputies field-tested the contents in the needles, and results came back as a positive identification for methamphetamine, according to the sheriff's office.

Casey, according to the affidavit, admitted to "previously owning" the box, but not the contents inside, and denied presently owning the box.

Other people in the room told deputies that Casey owned the box and the drugs. The affidavit says the other occupants in the room told deputies Casey and Joshua Chelette brought their kids -- a 5-year-old and a child younger than 5 -- to the room and asked the others to watch their children while the two suspects allegedly injected meth.

Casey Chelette was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of persons under 17 years of age.

Joshua Chelette was released on $200 bond later Sunday.

Casey Chelette was released on $5,000 bond hours later on Sunday.

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