Man arrested on gun, child abuse charges

Published 12:00 am Thursday, January 20, 2011

FAITH — A man charged Tuesday with having weapons of mass destruction and drug paraphernalia in his home, was also charged with misdemeanor child abuse, authorities reported today.
The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office responded to a tip that a child at the home of Timothy William Button, 29, of 560 Deck Lane, might have been in danger. When deputies arrived, they spoke to Button, who allowed them to enter and search his home.
In a back bedroom they found two sawed-off shotguns, one loaded, neither stored out of reach of the child.
A pipe and digital scale were also found, along with a large amount of a legal herb called Damiana — similar to marijuana.
Authorities reported that all of the items taken from the home, the guns and paraphernalia, were not safely stored out of the child’s reach.
The Rowan Department of Social Services was contacted, and the child was placed with a family member.
Button was charged with two counts of possessing a weapon of mass destruction, possession of drug paraphernalia and misdemeanor child abuse. He was given a $25,000 secured bond.