Venice couple arrested after drugs, explosives discovered in home

SARASOTA -- A Venice couple was arrested Friday after deputies discovered drugs, weapons and explosives within reach of a 5-year-old child living in their home, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office.

Steven Pace, 23, and Katie Smith, 24, were arrested at 12:30 p.m. Friday and charged with aggravated child abuse. Pace also faces four counts of possession of an explosive device. Additional charges are pending, deputies said.

According to a release, deputies responded to the home in the 400 block of North Jackson Road in Venice around noon Friday, to assist the Department of Children and Family Services with a welfare check. Once inside, they saw eight rifles, five handguns, several boxes of ammunition and nearly 330 grams of suspected synthetic cannabinoid.

According to the sheriff's office, deputies also discovered two pipe bombs and two hand grenades in the master bedroom. The home was covered in dirt and trash and described as deplorable by investigators.

Both Pace and Smith were being held at the Sarasota County Jail, according to the release. Pace is being held on $180,000 bond and Smith is being held on $100,000 bond.

The investigation is ongoing, deputies said.

This story was originally published February 22, 2016 at 2:03 PM with the headline "Venice couple arrested after drugs, explosives discovered in home ."