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By Mike Sever
Record-Courier staff writer
ROOTSTOWN A New Milford Road man killed himself Tuesday morning, hours after being charged with felony child endangering for allegedly growing marijuana in the family home.
Robert W. Batsch, 55, of 2808 New Milford, was found in the woods behind his home by his wife shortly after noon Tuesday, according to Portage County Sheriff David Doak.
A .22-caliber rifle was found nearby.
By 1 p.m., the driveway and road in front of the Batsch home was crowded with sheriffs vehicles.
The well-kept, hundred-year-old home is located eight miles south of Ravenna. Maple trees around the light green home were already hung with containers for maple sap and homemade paper snowflakes were hung in windows.
The couple bought the home in 1991, according to county court records.
Batsch and his wife, Pamela J. Batsch, 54, were both arrested Monday on warrants for allowing a juvenile to live in the home while they were cultivating marijuana there.
Both were released on 10 percent of $5,000 bond after 5 p.m. Monday.
Both were scheduled for preliminary hearings on Friday before Portage County Municipal Court Judge Barbara Oswick.
The couple faced a maximum prison sentence of one to five years each if convicted on the third-degree felony charges, according to Portage County Prosecutor Victor Vigluicci.
There was no information on how large a growing operation the couple allegedly had.
A criminal complaint filed against the couple alleged they had been growing marijuana for 13 years and only ceased when it became known law enforcement was investigating.
Doak said he did not see any evidence of marijuana when he was in the basement of the home.
Batsch was pronounced dead at the scene at 2 p.m. according to the Portage County Coroners Office. No autopsy was planned.
Record-Courier staff writer
ROOTSTOWN A New Milford Road man killed himself Tuesday morning, hours after being charged with felony child endangering for allegedly growing marijuana in the family home.
Robert W. Batsch, 55, of 2808 New Milford, was found in the woods behind his home by his wife shortly after noon Tuesday, according to Portage County Sheriff David Doak.
A .22-caliber rifle was found nearby.
By 1 p.m., the driveway and road in front of the Batsch home was crowded with sheriffs vehicles.
The well-kept, hundred-year-old home is located eight miles south of Ravenna. Maple trees around the light green home were already hung with containers for maple sap and homemade paper snowflakes were hung in windows.
The couple bought the home in 1991, according to county court records.
Batsch and his wife, Pamela J. Batsch, 54, were both arrested Monday on warrants for allowing a juvenile to live in the home while they were cultivating marijuana there.
Both were released on 10 percent of $5,000 bond after 5 p.m. Monday.
Both were scheduled for preliminary hearings on Friday before Portage County Municipal Court Judge Barbara Oswick.
The couple faced a maximum prison sentence of one to five years each if convicted on the third-degree felony charges, according to Portage County Prosecutor Victor Vigluicci.
There was no information on how large a growing operation the couple allegedly had.
A criminal complaint filed against the couple alleged they had been growing marijuana for 13 years and only ceased when it became known law enforcement was investigating.
Doak said he did not see any evidence of marijuana when he was in the basement of the home.
Batsch was pronounced dead at the scene at 2 p.m. according to the Portage County Coroners Office. No autopsy was planned.