Rural Bloomfield couple faces drug charges after report made by school official

A rural Bloomfield couple arrested a week ago were in court this week on a string of drug-related charges.

Lori A. Hartman, 34, and Gregory S. Thatcher, 44, were arraigned in Greene Circuit Court and have been released from jail on bond.

An investigation into the couple's activities began after a staff member from the Eastern Greene School made a report to the Greene County Sheriff's Department on Nov. 5 concerning possible drug-dealing in the home.

The next day, Det. George Dallaire requested a search warrant for their residence on Dry Branch Road on R.R. 3.

A team of officers were briefed and at approximately 2:34 p.m. on Nov. 6, the warrant was executed by Det. Dallaire, Greene County Sheriff's Deputies Jeremy Inman, John Fowler, Aaron Smith and Brad Deckard and Indiana State Police Troopers Brad Stille, Doug Hutchison and John Yung.

Thatcher was at home when officers arrived.

The home, as well as a garage, was reported to be in total disarray.

According to probable cause affidavits, the officers found a "grow room" built inside of the garage and the smell of marijuana was detected in other rooms of the house.

Inside the grow room, officers reported finding drying marijuana hanging from chains and spread on window screens. They also found marijuana in bags as well as potting soil, plant starting trays, fertilizer, buckets, water hose, grow lights, heaters, fans, a thermometer and a few household plants.

In addition, they reported finding containers with marijuana seeds, smoking pipes, handguns, ammunition, pills later identified as controlled substances, another substance which field tested positive as methamphetamine and methadone pills.

The affidavit says the controlled substances were found in various containers in several different locations.

Besides the couple, a minor also lived in the home.

Thatcher was arrested on the scene.

Hartman was located in Bloomfield on Nov. 7 and arrested. More controlled substances were reportedly found during a search of Hartman's vehicle.

The two have been charged with a long list -- Thatcher with five felonies and one misdemeanor, Hartman with seven felonies and one misdemeanor.

The charges against Thatcher include: Possession of methamphetamine with a firearm, a class C felony; two counts of possession of a controlled substance, both class D felonies; maintaining a common nuisance, a class D felony; possession of marijuana, a class D felony; and reckless possession of methamphetamine, a class B misdemeanor.

The charges against Hartman include: Four counts of possession of a controlled substance, all class D felonies; maintaining a common nuisance, a class D felony; possession of methamphetamine with a firearm, a class C felony; possession of marijuana, a class D felony; and reckless possession of paraphernalia, a class B misdemeanor.

Their bond was set at $18,000 each.