Local man arrested for drugs, weapons and hiding fugitive

After nine hours of surveillance, repeated denials and a search of a house deputies say held exactly who they were looking for, an Ozark County man is now facing multiple felony charges. Investigators allege he went to significant lengths to conceal a wanted woman and was found surrounded by drugs and paraphernalia when officers ultimately closed in.

Joseph Waugh, of Caulfield, is now being held in the Ozark County Jail on a $5,000 cash-only bond in connection with the incident. 

According to the probable cause statement, prepared by Ozark County Sheriff’s Lt. Matt Rhoades, at 7 p.m. Feb. 27, the officer watched Waugh pull into a property at 41129 Highway 160, where a woman was later found to be.

“He lied multiple times in person and via telephone to deputies, stating he had not seen Cheriakee Charlton in months, they were no longer dating and she no longer lived there – to prevent her arrest on felony warrants. During this time, myself, Sheriff Martin and other deputies have gone to the residence to arrest Cheriakee. Joseph continued to deny she was at the location forcing me to spend approximately 9 hours surveilling the residence between three different occasions. For this, I required the assistance of multiple deputies, wasting dozens of hours of manpower to confirm she was at the residence and Joseph lied,” Rhoades wrote in the report, citing that the actions constituted the charge of hindering prosecution under Missouri Revised Statute 575.030.

Rhoades said officers found several items on Waugh when they arrested him, which led to the additional drug charges. Those items included a digital scale with a white powdery substance on it that field-tested positive for methamphetamine, morphine pills with no prescription and brass knuckles, a dangerous instrument that is illegal to possess. 

Inside Waugh’s truck, Rhoades reported to have found a glass methamphetamine bong on the dashboard with drug residue inside. Near the truck, where Waugh stood, officers found a black magnetic case containing used syringes, a small bag with white crystal substance that officers recognized as methamphetamine, a spoon with drug residue, cotton filters and various paraphernalia, all of which field-tested positive for methamphetamine. 

A search warrant from a prior application was updated, issued and executed at his residence. On Waugh’s person, officers say they found 25 morphine pills, a glass smoking device and a digital scale that field-tested positive for methamphetamine. In the garage on the property, they found additional syringes, as well as a glass bong with 113 grams of a substance that field-tested positive for meth, a spoon/knife that field-tested positive for meth, a pink bag with 2.9 grams of suspected meth and brass knuckles. In the master bedroom, they logged another digital scale, numerous baggies, glass smoking devices and spoons that field-tested positive for methamphetamine. 

He is now charged in connection with the incident with delivering a controlled substance with intent to sell (methamphetamine), possession of a controlled substance (morphine pills), hindering the prosecution of a felony (for attempting to prevent the apprehension of Cheriakee Charlton), unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia for methamphetamine use (for several items involved with the drug use) and unlawful possession of a weapon (brass knuckles). He is charged as a prior and persistent drug offender, meaning he could face increased punishment ranges if convicted. 

The case was filed and an arrest warrant was issued on April 15. He was arrested April 20 and remains in jail. He is scheduled to appear before Associate Judge Raymond Gross at 9 a.m. May 5 for a bond appearance hearing.