By Jacob Mathias

Three Wisconsin Rapids residents face felony drug charges after police searched a Town of Rudolph home.

Ernest Smith, 38, and Jessica Sternberg, 21, are both charged with felonious maintaining a drug trafficking place and possession

Jessica Stensberg (Photo courtesy of Wood Co. Jail)

of methamphetamine which both carry a maximum sentence of up to three years and six months imprisonment, or a $10,000 fine or both if convicted.

For charges of possession of controlled substance and drug paraphernalia they could see a sentence of up to 30 days imprisonment, or a $500 or both. Smith is also charged with misdemeanor possession of THC with a possible sentence of up to six months imprisonment, or a $1,000 fine or both.

Lucas Kelly, 23, is charged with possession of methamphetamine.

According to court documents, at about 5:00 AM on November 18, the Wood County Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant at a home on the 1600 block of Greenfield Ave. Eight people were in the home at the time of the search including an infant belonging to Smith and Sternberg sleeping in a crib.

During the search, police observed a video surveillance system observing the exterior of the home.

A search of the home itself revealed a 0.3 gram baggy of methamphetamine in a drawer by the infant’s crib and 0.1 grams in an attic above the garage.

Lucas Kelley (Photo courtesy of Wood Co. Jail)

8.8 grams of marijuana was found in a kitchen cabinet as well as scales, syringes and pipes. A loaded handgun and shotgun, two rifles and five cell phones were also seized at the house.

When deputies searched Smith, they found five pills of alprazolam, a narcotic anxiety medication, and nine pills of zolpidem, a narcotic sleep medication.

A neighbor of the searched home said there were many visitors there at all hours who only stayed for a few minutes a time.

Smith admitted to both the use and sale of methamphetamine but said he wasn’t aware of the meth near the crib.

Kelley said the meth found in the attic belonged to him.

Kelly and Stensberg are both free on $2,500 signature bonds while Smith is free on a $5,000 bond.