PINEHURST – Three children have been removed from their mother’s custody, and 12 felony charges have been filed following a child abuse investigation that culminated in a raid Tuesday evening. 

Justin Stevenson, 26; Jordanne Freese, 29; Jonathan Ross, 33; and Mark Stevenson, 56, were taken into custody at various times on Tuesday. The charges stem from a welfare check conducted Saturday by deputies with the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO). 

According to an SCSO report, Capt. Seth Green was alerted by a deputy conducting a welfare check at a residence just outside Pinehurst city limits. The check was prompted by the children’s father, who reported alarming statements made by his two older children. They alleged that their mother, Freese, and her boyfriend, Justin Stevenson, were abusing their two-year-old sister. 

During the welfare check, Green reportedly observed 42 visible injuries on the toddler’s head and body. Determining the child was in imminent danger, he removed her from the home. 

On Tuesday, Freese and Justin Stevenson were at the courthouse for a hearing regarding the two-year-old. Both were arrested before leaving the premises. According to the probable cause affidavit, Freese was taken into custody immediately after the hearing, while Stevenson was arrested outside the courtroom. 

The affidavit also states that Freese’s older children told investigators they were often confined to a separate room whenever their mother and Justin “got out their tinfoil and torches.” 

According to Green, while the pair were inside the courthouse, K-9 Deputy Lulu conducted an open-air sniff around their vehicle. This led to a search of the truck, where deputies discovered multiple drugs and drug paraphernalia. 

Following their arrests, both Freese and Stevenson blamed each other for the abuse. However, during a forensic interview, the child identified Justin as the person responsible for her injuries. 

Based on the children’s statements, Capt. Green obtained a warrant to search the home. 

“We saw evidence of drug use by both caretakers of the children,” Green said. “Based off our training, we know that drug use can exacerbate the dangers and risks in these types of situations.” 

Due to the severity of the child’s injuries, Green expressed concern about the potential risks of entering the home. The raid was carried out with support from the SCSO’s Rapid Action Team, the Shoshone County Drug Task Force, the Probation Department, and assistance from Kootenai County and the Shoshone County TacMed Team. 

The property is the primary residence of Justin Stevenson’s parents, who allowed him and Freese to live in a camper on-site. Two of the children lived in the main house, while the youngest stayed in the camper with Freese and Stevenson. 

Mark Stevenson was arrested at the residence during the raid, which uncovered additional drugs, paraphernalia, and firearms. Jonathan Ross, who was also living on the property and on probation, was found in possession of a firearm—a violation of his probation. 

Shoshone County Sheriff Holly Lindsey and Undersheriff Lance Stutzke were present during the raid and assisted with the investigation. 

“I love watching our team work,” Lindsey said. “It makes me so proud to see them do their thing because they're very good at what they do. Captain Green’s job is to make sure these operations go down safely and successfully, and he does an amazing job.” 

Stutzke echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of interagency cooperation. 

“It’s hard not to get emotionally attached to these cases, especially when there are kids involved,” he said. “But I’m proud of how we were able to respond so quickly and get this handled safely before it escalated any further.” 

Justin Stevenson was charged with felony injury to a child; three counts of possession of a controlled substance (fentanyl and methamphetamine); two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm; possession of drug paraphernalia. He also faces separate felony drug charges in Kootenai County. 

Jordanne Freese was charged with felony injury to a child; three counts of possession of a controlled substance; two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia. 

Mark Stevenson was charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver (methamphetamine); possession of drug paraphernalia. 

Jonathan Ross was charged with probation violation. 

The two older children have been placed in the custody of their father. The youngest child is now under the care of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. 

    Justin Stevenson
  

    Jordanne Freese