Three people were arrested after Warsaw undercover narcotics officers went to an apartment on the northeast side of Warsaw after receiving information that morphine was being sold there. According to a Warsaw Police Department press release, upon arrival at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, officers spoke with a female who had just walked out of the apartment and attempted to conceal a pill bottle. Officers obtained the pill bottle which contained eight pills that were identified as morphine sulfate, a schedule II controlled substance. The female, identified as Jennifer Moore, 25, Warsaw, did not have a valid prescription for the morphine pills and was taken into custody. Officers continued the investigation inside the apartment and spoke with Leroy Houchin, 46, who lived there. Houchin admitted to providing morphine to Moore in exchange for marijuana. Inside the apartment, officers observed marijuana paraphernalia and discovered a marijuana cultivation operation. Houchin was taken into custody and booked on a class B felony charge of dealing in a schedule II controlled substance. He was also charged with possession of a schedule II controlled substance, conspiracy to commit a felony (dealing), and possession of marijuana (growing or cultivating). Moore was also booked on the class B felony charge of dealing in a schedule II controlled substance and possession of a schedule II controlled substance. Both are being held at the Kosciusko County Jail on $10,000 surety bonds. Police also arrested Kari Hughes, 35, Leesburg on an outstanding warrant for dealing, after investigators found that she had exchanged Percocet for morphine in a transaction with Houchin earlier in the day. She was booked on the warrant and is being held with no bond. Additional charges may be forthcoming. Warsaw Police were assisted by the Indiana State Police and the Kosciusko County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
