Two sisters living just outside Warrenton have been charged with child endangerment and felony drug crimes after police executed a search warrant at their home on Orchard Farm Circle.Lauren A. Skelton, 33, and Margaret M. Skelton, 26, were arrested July 18 for felony drug possession and one charge each of endangering the welfare of a child. Three children under the age of 17 were found in the home, according to authorities. Both suspects are out of jail on bail pending arraignment.Officers of the regional East Central Drug Task Force, Missouri State Highway Patrol and Warren County Sheriff’s Department searched the residence July 18. Officers found multiple small bags of heroin and methamphetamine, along with pills of alprazolam, a medication used to treat anxiety, according to an arrest report.Court records indicate Lauren Skelton resides at the address searched.“This search warrant originated out of an investigation into the ongoing possession, use and distribution of heroin in this community,” said Warren County Sheriff Kevin Harrison.When interviewed by authorities, Lauren and Margaret both allegedly admitted to using drugs inside the residence. Investigators said one bag of heroin and a glass pipe with meth residue were located in areas accessible to the children.Harrison said when children are located in this sort of situation and the parents are arrested, standard protocol is to contact the state child abuse hotline to provide social services for the children.Lauren and Margaret Skelton had arraignments scheduled for Aug. 2 in Warren County Circuit Court. Lauren is charged with three counts of felony drug possession. Margaret has two such charges against her. Both women have a single charge of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child.All of the charges are class D felonies, punishable by a fine or prison sentence.Lauren Skelton has previous convictions for felony drug possession and a prior conviction for forgery.

Lauren Skelton

Margaret Skelton