Published: March 28, 2008 01:47 pm         

Mom arrives at daughter’s arrest, is then charged

Police say she was intoxicated; two others face drug charges

By Mark Boshnack
Staff Writer

A New Lisbon woman called her mother after deputies arrested her and two others on drug charges Tuesday, deputies said.

The mother was arrested after she showed up at the scene in an intoxicated state.

Michelle Slonaker, 22, and her boyfriend, Andrew J. Wilson, 30, were arrested at their house at 367 Turnbull Road in Mount Vision. They were charged with second-degree criminal possession of marijuana, a felony, and misdemeanor charges of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminally possessing a hypodermic needle, deputies said. Wilson was also charged with unlawful growing of cannabis by an unlicensed person.

Christopher J. Elliot, 27, of Middletown, was charged with second-degree criminal possession of marijuana and criminal possession of a hypodermic needle, deputies said.

Slonaker’s mother, Deborah Slonaker, 48, was arrested for driving while intoxicated when she came to the house after being notified of the arrest. Deputies started their investigation after they went to the house last week while searching for a wanted person. There was a strong smell of marijuana there and drug paraphernalia in plain sight, deputies said. When they went there Tuesday, they discovered marijuana growing indoors and other drugs, according to a media release.

Items seized included 49 marijuana plants, a triple beam balance, growing lights and other equipment, three pounds of marijuana, two ounces of hallucinogenic mushrooms, hypodermic syringes, and a small quantity of heroin, methadone and clonazepam, deputies said.

The three who were arrested on drug charges were each arraigned in New Lisbon Town Court and sent to Otsego County jail.

Bail was set at $7,500 for Wilson and Slonaker and at $5,000 for Elliot, deputies said. The mushrooms were sent to the state police Forensic Investigation Center in Albany for analysis, and additional charges could be filed.

Deborah Slonaker was released to appear at a later date, deputies said.