Child living in suspected St. Augustine drug home, five arrested

Five people have been arrested, after St. Johns County deputies search a suspected drug home and find drugs and paraphernalia within the reach of a child.

The investigation in to the home on Chapel Road in St. Augustine has been underway for more than a month. Deputies say they received complaints about illicit drug sales, which ultimately led them to execute a search warrant on the home.

The arrest report for 32-year-old Melissa Lazerte says she is the homeowner, and her child was also in the home when investigators arrived. The age of the child has been redacted, but the report says the child was able to reach drugs and paraphernalia, which was unsecured.

Lazerte is facing multiple charges including child neglect and destroying evidence, for allegedly dumping a baggie with a substance inside in to her toilet, when law enforcement arrived at the home. She has also been arrested for possession of meth with intent to distribute, maintaining a home where narcotics were sold, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Investigators say there was meth, plastic baggies, scales, glass pipes, spoons, and hypodermic needles in her bedroom. The arrest report says there was 51.9 grams of liquid meth.

She was sharing her bedroom with 35-year-old Donald Blount, and he has been arrested for possession of meth with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia. The charges against him stem from the same drugs and paraphernalia that Lazerte is charged with.

Two other co-defendants shared another bedroom in the home- 46-year-old Kristi Kennington and 43-year-old Richard Roggero. They have both been arrested for possession of between 28 and 200 grams of meth with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia. Their arrest reports show a “water bong style bottle” with 51.9 grams of liquid inside was in the bedroom, and the liquid tested positive for meth. Hyperbolic needles, cotton balls that tested positive for meth, and meth smoking pipes were also found in the room.

25-year-old Kelley Eplin has also been arrested, for possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana. Investigators say they found plastic baggies, a glass pipe, marijuana seeds, and marijuana stems in her room.

The arrest report says the Department of Children and Families has taken custody of the child that was in the home.