Staff Report

PIERCETON — A Pierceton man faces additional criminal charges after police found drugs and paraphernalia at a residence when they served an arrest warrant.

Valente Ceballos Jr.

Valente Ceballos Jr., 36, 3104 E. Wooster Road 17, Pierceton, is charged with dealing methamphetamine, a level 2 felony; possession of methamphetamine, a level 4 felony; possession of a controlled substance, a class A misdemeanor; and possession of paraphernalia, a class B misdemeanor. 

According to the affidavit of probable cause, on Oct. 8, 2020, law enforcement officers went to a residence in Pierceton to serve a warrant for Ceballos.

Officers knocked on the door and were greeted by a woman at the residence. Ceballos could be seen standing behind the woman. Police took Ceballos into custody and saw, in plain view, a mirror, razor blade, smoking device and white powder substance in the area where Ceballos was standing. 

Officers spoke with the woman, who said the residence is her home. She said Ceballos stays there as her guest. She allegedly admitted that she had knowledge of Ceballos selling methamphetamine at her residence. She gave police consent to search the home.

Officers found a phone box containing methamphetamine that weighed 15.36 grams. They also found six smoking devices with burnt residue, two digital scales with residue, 1.35 grams of a schedule II controlled substance and multiple plastic bags with residue. 

Ceballos called the woman from the Kosciusko Jail on Oct. 18, 2020, according to information in the affidavit. During that call, Ceballos and the woman discussed Ceballos’ drug dealing, the difficulty it has caused in their relationship and how this led to him getting caught. The woman also told Ceballos that her father does not approve of him because of the drug dealing and the fact that he does not have legitimate employment.

Ceballos responded by acknowledging dealing and stating that he did not get a legal job because he is too proud to work for someone else. 

Ceballos was booked at the Kosciusko County Jail Jan. 9 on a $30,500 surety and cash bond.