Photo: Nathan Schaffer
A rural Mountain Home man appeared in Baxter County Circuit Court earlier this month and pled guilty to a number of charges — including child endangerment for having drugs and drug paraphernalia in a room of his house used as a young child’s play area.
Forty-eight-year-old Nathan Schaffer was sentenced to 10 years in prison by Circuit Judge John Putman.
Schaffer will be allowed to remain in a rehabilitation program at Care Center Ministries until he is transported to the state prison system.
Schaffer’s arrest came in early October 2019 as a result of a search at his residence located along Arkansas Highway 5 North.
The search was part of an investigation into multiple buys of methamphetamine allegedly made at the house by a confidential informant.
Officers reported locating 22 grams of methamphetamine, 1 ounce of marijuana, 3.4 grams of fentynal and a number of items used to package methamphetamine to sell.
Four firearms were also found in the home, each loaded and ready to fire, according to the probable cause affidavit.
Schaffer is a convicted felon and not allowed to possess weapons.
In a play area used by a then 1-to-2-year-old child, officers reported finding powered fentynal, methamphetamine, devices used to ingest drugs and sex toys.
What was described as a “methamphetamine processing station” was found about 4 feet from the play area.
Schaffer’s charges include possession of methamphetamine and fentynal, possession of drug paraphernalia and endangering the welfare of a minor.
A woman Schaffer describes as his fiancé, 34-year-old Katie Lee Fernandez-Stucken, was also arrested during the search of the residence on State Highway 5 North.
Photo: Katie Lee Fernandez-Stucken
Her charges basically mirror those filed against Schaffer. She is currently a fugitive. An arrest warrant was issued for her early last month after she failed to make a scheduled court appearance.
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