A man and a woman have been charged with having methamphetamine in the presence of four children, according to court documents.

Shelby Barnes and Dameon McDowell were arrested Thursday and made their initial appearances Friday before Natrona County Circuit Court Judge Brian Christensen.

Barnes, 33, and McDowell, 38, were charged with four separate counts of child endangerment with meth. These are felonies each punishable by up to five years imprisonment. They also were charged with one misdemeanor count of receiving stolen property worth less than $1,000, and one misdemeanor count of possession of meth.

Both defendants have extensive criminal histories, especially McDowell with convictions in California for aggravated assault and an attempt to terrorize. Christensen set Barnes' bond at $15,000, and set McDowell's bond at $20,000.

The case began early Thursday when a caretaker for an elderly couple reported a purse and other items missing from her vehicle near a residence on East 21st Street, according to the affidavit filed with Natrona County Circuit Court.

She called her bank to cancel the checking account and credit cards, and learned a credit card had already been used at the Kum and Go convenience store at 15th and McKinley streets.

Police determined from the video and certain characteristics of the SUV at the store that it belonged to Barnes.

Police went to Barnes' residence in the 2200 block of South Jefferson Street, where they learned a man, Jonathan Clark, has just ran out the back door of the apartment complex. Clark dropped the credit card and eluded police. An arrest warrant has been issued for him.

Meanwhile, police spoke to Barnes and she allowed officers to search her apartment where they found the purse and other items taken from the woman who reported that theft. Police told Barnes and her boyfriend McDowell they were suspects in an auto burglary.

Police also found a glass pipe used for smoking methamphetamine. Barnes said it was not hers and wanted to help the officers because she didn't want to be arrested and have her children taken away from her.

Officers contacted the Wyoming Department of Family Services, which made arrangements to take her four children into protective custody.

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