Criminal charges have been filed in what law enforcement officials are calling, “one of the largest methamphetamine seizures in state history.”
At about 8 a.m. Thursday Dec. 29, a search warrant was executed by the Noble County Sheriff’s Department, the Ligonier Police Department, Indiana State Police and the Drug Enforcement Association at a house in the 1100 block of North State Road 5 in Ligonier.
Crews found about 20 pounds of meth, more than 100 pounds of marijuana and paraphernalia. Police say the street value of the drugs is more than $1 million.
About 60 loaded firearms were found in the house. Crews also found stolen dirt bikes, motorcycles, ATVs and about $74,000 in cash.
Mark Morr, 47, Sherry Morr, 47, Justin Morr, 19, and Vanessa Salas, 21, were all arrested. Two teenagers were inside the home during the bust and were placed into the care of the Department of Child Services.
Noble County Prosecutor Eric Blackman announced the following charges:
Mark Morr: Dealing in Methamphetamine, Level 2 felony; Dealing in Marijuana, Level 5 felony; Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Level 6 felony; and Theft, Level 6 felony.
Sherry Morr: Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 3 felony; Dealing in Marijuana, Level 5 felony; Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Level 6 felony; and Theft, Level 6 felony.
Dustin Morr: Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 3 felony; Dealing in Marijuana, Level 5 felony; and Theft, Level 6 felony.
Vanessa Sales: Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 3 felony; Dealing in Marijuana, Level 5 felony; and Theft, Level 6 felony.
Additionally, an allegation of being in possession of a sawed-off shotgun during a drug crime is being sought in Mark Morr’s case.
“The magnitude of this seizure really cannot be overstated,” said Prosecutor Blackman. “Methamphetamine has long been a problem in Noble County. While changes in the law have made locally-made methamphetamine somewhat less of a problem, we are seeing a rise in laboratory-manufactured crystal methamphetamine being brought into our area from out-of-state.”
The case remains under investigation, as law enforcement officers continue to try to identify stolen property and all persons charged will be in Court on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. for their Initial Hearings, at which time the Court will also set bail.
