A judge recently ruled that there was enough evidence for a 26-year-old woman to stand trial on charges of child endangerment and involuntary manslaughter in the death of her son, as reported in a recent Times-Standard report. The woman is accused of killing her six-week-old son with methamphetamine-laced breast milk as a result of using the drug while breastfeeding. She faces nine years in jail if convicted.
The woman was arrested while in police custody for a probation violation for a previous conviction. There was a two-month investigation leading up to her arrest, after her son was rushed to the hospital because he was not breathing. Toxicology and autopsy results later revealed the cause of death was methamphetamine toxicity. The woman’s then 19-month-old daughter also tested positive for methamphetamine. Child Welfare Services has since taken the child into protective custody. The woman tested positive for the drug while she was six-months pregnant with her son, according to court documents. She later admitted using the drug during her pregnancy and after the birth of her son.
The woman had posted bail in this case, but was later arrested again after violating probation by testing positive again for methamphetamine. She is currently being held without bail.
This woman would get no sympathy in a court of law in any state, much less Colorado. However, if this trial was to be held in Colorado, her Colorado criminal defense attorney would see to it that she receives fair treatment under the law. He would map out a solid defense strategy, regardless of his own personal feelings on the matter. He would also explain the laws to her in a way she can understand and be totally straight about the harsh penalties she faces. She would face a very long prison sentence for the combined manslaughter and child endangerment charges. Being a repeat drug offender would make her Colorado criminal defense attorney’s work that much harder, but she could be assured that he would give her nothing less than his best effort.
