Pubdate: Wed, 10 May 2006 Source: Springfield News-Leader (MO) Copyright: 2006 The Springfield News-Leader Contact: http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1129 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) COUNTY POLICY SEES FIRST SENTENCE Springfield Woman Gets 5 Years' Probation Under Policy Targeting Pregnant Drug Users The first person charged under Greene County's new policy targeting mothers who use illegal drugs during pregnancy must stay clean for five years or be sentenced to up to seven years in prison, according to a plea agreement. Sarah A. Weese, 19, of Springfield was granted a suspended imposition of sentence and placed on five years' probation during a sentencing hearing before Greene County Judge Calvin Holden. Weese pleaded guilty in March to the Class C felony of child endangerment after she and her newborn baby tested positive for methamphetamine. She also pleaded guilty to a class D felony offense of interference with custody involving her 3-year-old child. Under the terms of a plea agreement, she must undergo parenting classes and drug treatment and stay clean of drugs and alcohol. Weese was charged under a new policy targeting mothers who use illegal drugs shortly before giving birth. At the time Weese was charged, Greene County Assistant Prosecutor Jill Patterson said that as part of the new effort, police would respond when a new mother tests positive for drugs -- a similar system triggers newborn crisis assessments by the Missouri Department of Social Services' Children's Division. Patterson said officers won't be looking at tests taken as part of prenatal care. "We don't want to discourage prenatal care ... I don't think having a policy that says we're looking at people who test positive at birth should do that," Patterson said. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman