PORT ANGELES — A Clallam County trio has been charged with drug and weapons violations after authorities seized more than a pound of methamphetamine, 10 grams of heroin, two rifles and nearly $15,000 in cash from their Port Angeles-area home.
Richard A. Welches, 26; Michael D. Welches, 65; and Vicki L. Hovey, 57, were arrested on the 600 block of Hulse Road after U.S. Marshals, state Department of Corrections officers and the Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team (OPNET) searched the residence Sunday.
“All three parties live at the residence and were taken into custody without incident,” said Det. Sgt. Josh Powless, OPNET supervisor.
Detectives found 463.5 grams of suspected methamphetamine, 10.2 grams of suspected heroin, two rifles and $14,868 in cash inside the residence, Powless said. One of the rifles was reported as stolen.
Powless estimated the street value of the methamphetamine was $18,500 and the value of the heroin was about $1,000.
One pound is 453.6 grams.
“That’s a pretty substantial amount,” Powless said of the seized methamphetamine.
“We’re happy to get that off of the street, that as well as the guns.”
The items were found when OPNET detectives, Corrections officers and the U.S. Marshals Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force served a DOC warrant for Richard Welches, Powless said.
Three other subjects were arrested Sunday on outstanding warrants, Powless said.
“Those other people were arrested at other locations unrelated to this,” Powless said in a Thursday interview.
“The only way they’re related is it was all part of the same operation, just kind of a warrant round-up.”
The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office, Port Angeles and Sequim police departments, State Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations assisted in the U.S. Marshals’ task force operation, Powless said.
Richard Welches was charged in Clallam County Superior Court on Monday with single counts of possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, possession with intent to deliver heroin and two counts of second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. He is scheduled to be arraigned next Friday.
Michael Welches was charged Monday with single counts of accomplice to possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine and heroin possession, court papers show. He is scheduled to be arraigned at 1:30 p.m. today.
Hovey was charged Monday with accomplice to possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine and heroin possession. She is scheduled to be arraigned next Friday.
Richard and Michael Welches and Hovey each were charged in 2018 for alleged fish poaching along the Quillayute River.
The two Welches were charged in federal court for illegally falling a big-leaf maple tree near the former Lake Aldwell boat launch in November 2013.
Richard Welches was being held Thursday in the Clallam County jail on $25,000 bail.
Michael Welches and Hovey posted bail bonds Monday, $10,000 and $5,000, respectively.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
