BUCKHANNON – A Lewis County woman was arrested Sunday after police allegedly discovered drug residue and an unsheathed knife in plain view in her home while a minor was in her custody.

Amber Lowther, 37, of Crawford, West Virginia, was arrested for gross child neglect, a felony; receiving or transferring stolen goods, a felony; and false information, a misdemeanor.

According to the criminal complaint in the Upshur County Magistrate Clerk’s Office filed by Upshur County Sheriff’s Deputy Cpl. On Nov. 26, 2023, Tyler Gordon responded to a residence on Heaston Ridge Road in Upshur County during an Upshur County Home Confinement Office visit.

Upon entering the residence, Gordon allegedly observed drug residue “within plain sight” on the living room table, a fixed blade knife lying unsheathed on the same table, and unsafe storage of tools and outdoor equipment piled from the floor to ceiling within the bedroom of a minor, according to the report.

The current custodian of the minor, Lowther, allegedly confessed that she was impaired due to drug usage on both Saturday, Nov. 25, and Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023. The complaint notes the minor does not reside permanently at Lowther’s residence.

During the home confinement visit, Lowther initially stated she had not used any category of drug since her recent release from jail but then later allegedly admitted to using methamphetamine.

Upshur County Magistrate Alan Suder set bail at $35,000 cash or surety.

The potential penalty for a conviction of gross child neglect is a fine of not less than $1,000 nor more than $3,000 or imprisonment in a state penitentiary for one to five years or both. In addition, the penalty for a conviction of providing false information is a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $200, confinement in jail for five days or both.