Two Stroud Township residents have been charged with drug-related offenses and endangering the welfare of children by members of the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, Criminal Investigations Division.

In an affidavit of probable cause, police said at the request of Monroe County Office of Children and Youth Services, they responded to the Cranberry Road home was occupied by Jessica Walters and Robert Nochella, both 35, and two children, ages 7 and 3. Children and Youth said that Walters was using fentanyl in the home with the children present. The supervisor indicated the woman provided a caseworker urine drug screens that were positive for fentanyl, the affidavit states.

Police said Monroe County detectives went to the home and were greeted by Walters and Nochella, the father of the children. Police found a plastic vitamin bottle (without child protective opening) in the bathroom of the home and it contained several empty heroin/fentanyl packets with various marking on them.

District Attorney Michael Mancuso’s office said the home was in a deplorable condition with the children at risk, and Walters was actively withdrawing from fentanyl. Detectives, along with assistance from the Stroud Area Regional Police Department, located a large amount of drug paraphernalia, a digital scale, packaging materials and other items indicative of drug use.

Police said Nochella denied being a drug user and any knowledge of drugs or drug paraphernalia in the home.

However, after the arrest of Walters, detectives conducted a search of her cellphone and observed text conversations between her and Nochella that indicated Nochella was not only aware of the drug use, but also communicating with Walters about the sale and distribution of heroin/fentanyl to others.

Children and Youth Services employees removed the children from the residence.

Police said Nochella admitted at the residence that after police left the prior night, he drove to Patterson, New Jersey, to purchase heroin/fentanyl, then returned to his residence. Police said he was cooperative and turned the drugs over to the police.

Nochella told police in an interview that because Walters’s habit was so expensive he began driving to Patterson to purchase cheaper heroin to support her habit, and also to sell to “get ahead” on their finances.

Nochella said on the night of Feb. 6, he had his neighbor watch the children so he could go buy drugs. He also stated one of his customers came to purchase heroin/fentanyl that night and he provided them with seven to eight bags of heroin/fentanyl.

They are each are facing charges of endangering the welfare of children, recklessly endangering another person, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Nochella also faces a count of criminal use of a communications facility.

Walters and Nochella are scheduled to appear for preliminary hearings at Magisterial District Judge Paul Gasper at 10 a.m. Feb. 19.