'Turtle Lady' Arrested For Meth Possession
Teri Lynn Peveto
By MALENA OGLES
Staff Writer
MURCHISON - A woman known in her gated community of Callender Lake as the "turtle lady" -- for rescuing injured box turtles -- was arrested Saturday for manufacturing and delivering methamphetamine.
Van Zandt County Sheriff's deputies arrested Teri Lynn Peveto outside her home in the 300 block of Callender Lake Drive at approximately 9 p.m. after a "lengthy" investigation by the sheriff's office and Canton Police Department.
During a search of the two-story home, more than one gram of meth and a small amount of cash were found inside the residence, said Van Zandt County Sheriff Pat Burnett.
Mrs. Peveto, 53, a retired nurse, was known for maintaining a "turtle sanctuary" for the past 15 years out of her Murchison backyard.
In an August interview with the Tyler Morning Telegraph, Mrs. Peveto said she cared for approximately 50 sick or injured turtles by feeding them a diet of earthworms, berries and fruits donated by area businesses.
"I didn't see any turtles when we executed the search warrant," Burnett said.
The Callender Lake subdivision is a small gated community of about 300 homes near the Van Zandt-Hend-erson County line. Half of the residents, including the Pevetos, live in the subdivision year-round, while the other half use their property as a vacation spot or lake home, said Callender Lake Homeowner's Association President C.A. Cockrell.
While the neighborhood isn't breaking the half-a-million-dollar mark on home prices, Cockrell said they try their best to have a nice community.
Association members have worked with the sheriff's department for several months to combat incidents of drugs and criminal mischief in the community.
"We're really no different than a lot of communities. They all have some problems. This isn't acceptable, and we will do anything humanly possible to get rid of it," Cockrell said.
He added that he wasn't surprised by the Pevetos' arrest and that the family's home caught fire several years ago under suspicious circumstances.
"We had our assumptions then, but we couldn't prove anything," Cockrell said.
Despite the charges, Cockrell said John Peveto was a "really friendly guy" who at one time served on Callender Lake Homeowners Association board.
"But you never know what goes on behind closed doors," Cockrell said.
Mrs. Peveto was charged with two counts of felony manufacturing and delivering a controlled substance. Her husband, John Hayden Peveto, 53, was not charged on Saturday because of medical problems, Burnett said.
Mrs. Peveto was arraigned Sunday by Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Don Kirkpatrick. Her bond was set at $125,000 on both charges. She posted bond several hours after arraignment.
"There will be future arrests in connection with Mrs. Peveto's," Burnett said.
He added that Mrs. Peveto's husband will face similar charges when he is released from the hospital.
"We will continue to get all the narcotics in Van Zandt County," Burnett said. "We can't get them all at once, but we can get them one at a time."
Staff Writer
MURCHISON - A woman known in her gated community of Callender Lake as the "turtle lady" -- for rescuing injured box turtles -- was arrested Saturday for manufacturing and delivering methamphetamine.
Van Zandt County Sheriff's deputies arrested Teri Lynn Peveto outside her home in the 300 block of Callender Lake Drive at approximately 9 p.m. after a "lengthy" investigation by the sheriff's office and Canton Police Department.
During a search of the two-story home, more than one gram of meth and a small amount of cash were found inside the residence, said Van Zandt County Sheriff Pat Burnett.
Mrs. Peveto, 53, a retired nurse, was known for maintaining a "turtle sanctuary" for the past 15 years out of her Murchison backyard.
In an August interview with the Tyler Morning Telegraph, Mrs. Peveto said she cared for approximately 50 sick or injured turtles by feeding them a diet of earthworms, berries and fruits donated by area businesses.
"I didn't see any turtles when we executed the search warrant," Burnett said.
The Callender Lake subdivision is a small gated community of about 300 homes near the Van Zandt-Hend-erson County line. Half of the residents, including the Pevetos, live in the subdivision year-round, while the other half use their property as a vacation spot or lake home, said Callender Lake Homeowner's Association President C.A. Cockrell.
While the neighborhood isn't breaking the half-a-million-dollar mark on home prices, Cockrell said they try their best to have a nice community.
Association members have worked with the sheriff's department for several months to combat incidents of drugs and criminal mischief in the community.
"We're really no different than a lot of communities. They all have some problems. This isn't acceptable, and we will do anything humanly possible to get rid of it," Cockrell said.
He added that he wasn't surprised by the Pevetos' arrest and that the family's home caught fire several years ago under suspicious circumstances.
"We had our assumptions then, but we couldn't prove anything," Cockrell said.
Despite the charges, Cockrell said John Peveto was a "really friendly guy" who at one time served on Callender Lake Homeowners Association board.
"But you never know what goes on behind closed doors," Cockrell said.
Mrs. Peveto was charged with two counts of felony manufacturing and delivering a controlled substance. Her husband, John Hayden Peveto, 53, was not charged on Saturday because of medical problems, Burnett said.
Mrs. Peveto was arraigned Sunday by Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Don Kirkpatrick. Her bond was set at $125,000 on both charges. She posted bond several hours after arraignment.
"There will be future arrests in connection with Mrs. Peveto's," Burnett said.
He added that Mrs. Peveto's husband will face similar charges when he is released from the hospital.
"We will continue to get all the narcotics in Van Zandt County," Burnett said. "We can't get them all at once, but we can get them one at a time."
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