Some charges in snake case go to grand jury

Some charges in snake case go to grand jury

STRUTHERS

Two Fifth Street residents who purportedly ran an online snake-selling business from their two-story duplex have waived their right to a preliminary hearing.

This turns the fourth-degree felony child endangering charge over to a Mahoning County grand jury.

In Struthers Municipal Court today, Joseph L. McCollum, 46, and Michele M. Barrett, 45, both of 438 Fifth St., also waived the time limits for their first-degree misdemeanor charge of having dangerous animals for sale or auction, to which they pleaded not guilty on Tuesday.

Their court trial for the misdemeanor charge will be reset for some time within the next 60 days, said Detective Jeff Lewis of the Struthers Police Department.

He said, too, that McCollum faces two other charges, which were added after authorities returned to McCollum and Barrett’s residence on Tuesday to recover more evidence.

In addition to observing numerous health hazards, including rodents running loose through the duplex, authorities said they found drug paraphernalia, including a crack pipe, a marijuana pipe, a digital scale and aluminum foil with drug residue.

McCollum was then charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, which is a fourth-degree misdemeanor, and with drug abuse (cocaine), a fifth-degree felony.

Bond has been set at $1,000, with 10 percent cash surety, for McCollum’s misdemeanor charge, and at $2,500, with 10 percent cash surety, for his felony charge.

Lewis added that health department officials have not yet decided what to do with the Fifth Street residence from which more than 100 snakes and lizards — some venomous — were seized last week, but noted that McCollum and Barrett are not currently living at the duplex.

Barrett’s 12-year-old son is again in McCollum and Barrett’s custody, Lewis said.