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Irregular News for 05.22.06
West Brance, NI -- A 23-year-old West Branch woman faces an involuntary manslaughter charge after prosecutors say her 5-month-old baby died from drinking breast milk contaminated with cocaine.
Sara Shelby appeared Thursday in Ogemaw County District Court for arraignment on the manslaughter charge and could receive up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
The West Branch woman remains free on bond pending a preliminary examination set for July 25.
''We've set the examination a little farther out than normal for the defense to have its experts review our findings,'' said Scott M. Williams, Ogemaw County's assistant prosecutor.
A medical expert for the prosecution has concluded that the baby died from ingesting cocaine. Prosecutors allege that Shelby used cocaine during the time she was breast-feeding and the drug was passed on through her breast milk.
Williams previously said he did not charge Shelby with murder since he believed there was no intent on her part to kill her daughter.
Shelby did not enter a plea on Thursday, Williams said.
She also faces an abuse and neglect charge in Ogemaw County Probate Court involving a 2-year-old child. The charge stems from the investigation into the death of the 5-month-old, Williams said.
The 2-year-old has been placed in the custody of relatives and the parents are only allowed supervised visits, he said.
A jury trial in the abuse and neglect case is set for July 11. Williams said there are no drug-related charges arising from the case at this time.
Shelby's case dates to Aug. 21, 2005, when a woman called 911 in Ogemaw County and reported that her baby wasn't breathing. An ambulance came to the house and took the infant to West Branch Regional Medical Center, where she was subsequently pronounced dead.
The initial cause of death was believed to be sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS.
But routine laboratory analysis performed months later detected the presence of cocaine in the young child's system.
The Times was unable to reach Shelby or her defense attorney, William Engemann of West Branch, for comment.
source
West Brance, NI -- A 23-year-old West Branch woman faces an involuntary manslaughter charge after prosecutors say her 5-month-old baby died from drinking breast milk contaminated with cocaine.
Sara Shelby appeared Thursday in Ogemaw County District Court for arraignment on the manslaughter charge and could receive up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
The West Branch woman remains free on bond pending a preliminary examination set for July 25.
''We've set the examination a little farther out than normal for the defense to have its experts review our findings,'' said Scott M. Williams, Ogemaw County's assistant prosecutor.
A medical expert for the prosecution has concluded that the baby died from ingesting cocaine. Prosecutors allege that Shelby used cocaine during the time she was breast-feeding and the drug was passed on through her breast milk.
Williams previously said he did not charge Shelby with murder since he believed there was no intent on her part to kill her daughter.
Shelby did not enter a plea on Thursday, Williams said.
She also faces an abuse and neglect charge in Ogemaw County Probate Court involving a 2-year-old child. The charge stems from the investigation into the death of the 5-month-old, Williams said.
The 2-year-old has been placed in the custody of relatives and the parents are only allowed supervised visits, he said.
A jury trial in the abuse and neglect case is set for July 11. Williams said there are no drug-related charges arising from the case at this time.
Shelby's case dates to Aug. 21, 2005, when a woman called 911 in Ogemaw County and reported that her baby wasn't breathing. An ambulance came to the house and took the infant to West Branch Regional Medical Center, where she was subsequently pronounced dead.
The initial cause of death was believed to be sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS.
But routine laboratory analysis performed months later detected the presence of cocaine in the young child's system.
The Times was unable to reach Shelby or her defense attorney, William Engemann of West Branch, for comment.
source