Two Worthington women arrested for meth possession

• Van Lo

Van Lo
• Chantharath

Chantharath

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WORTHINGTON — Bail was set Thursday at $5,000 each for two Worthington women arrested for possession of methamphetamine after a search warrant was executed at their home.

Four children ages 2 through 16 years old were removed from the home of Orathay Thai Van Lo, 43, and Thongsay Chantharath, 37. Each woman was charged with fifth-degree possession of a controlled substance with a previous conviction and meth-related crimes involving children.

Van Lo was also charged with ineligible person in possession of a firearm. She was convicted in 2006 of first-degree controlled substance. Chantharath was convicted in July of meth crimes involving children and is scheduled to be sentenced on that charge in September.

The criminal complaints state a search warrant was executed by the Buffalo Ridge Drug Task Force on Tuesday at the women’s home on Summit Avenue. Chantharath was located in the living room of the home with two children nearby and Van Lo was found in the southwest bedroom.

An agent found plastic packing material which contained a heavy odor of dryer sheets, generally used an in attempt to mask the odor of narcotics.

The door to the northwest bedroom was locked. Chantharath provided a key to the door, and agents seized a baggie from a garbage can that contained a substance that filed-tested positive for meth. They also found plastic wrap and aluminum that tested positive for meth, a purse that contained Chantharath’s driver’s license, foil and $200 cash.

In another purse, agents found $4,189 cash. Throughout the room were children’s toys and clothing.

In a southeast bedroom, an agent found numerous baggies, one of which contained a substance that tested positive for meth. In the closet were two .22 caliber rifles and a .410 shotgun. The agent learned this bedroom belonged to Van Lo and her husband.

Agents searched the basement and found a marijuana pipe and a baggie of marijuana.

The four children were turned over to Nobles County Family Services.

At the law enforcement center, Chantharath was advised of her rights and refused to give a statement. Van Lo and her husband agreed to give statements and both denied knowledge of the presence of a controlled substance in the home. Van Lo admitted she knew about the guns in the house, but said she was not aware she was not allowed to possess them.

Van Lo applied for a public defender, but that application was denied. Both women are scheduled for a court appearance Sept. 14.

Tags: news, worthington, crime, meth, methamphetamine