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No child-abuse charge for Neb. meth baby’s mom

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By The Associated Press

Thursday, Jun 19, 2008 - 09:23:00 am CDT

GRAND ISLAND— The Hall County prosecutor says he can’t file child-abuse charges against the mother of a newborn who tested positive for meth.

Hall County Attorney Mark Young says Nebraska law doesn’t consider injury to a fetus to be child abuse.

Young says it is outrageous that a pregnant woman would use methamphetamine. He says the case shows that users need more treatment options.

The baby girl was born June 14 at St. Francis Medical Center and soon after tested positive.

Her mother, 26-year-old Sandra Wetzel, is under arrest on other allegations. Court documents say she bounced checks in Sherman and Howard counties.

State officials have taken the baby, and a case has been opened to determine who will have custody of her.


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reform wrote on June 19, 2008 3:49 pm:
" maybe this is a sign that NE is outdated and needs to update the case, the baby was born... and tested positive for meth... it is no longer a fetus, it just sucks because Mark's hands are tied because of our old laws "
Matt wrote on June 19, 2008 7:05 pm:
" Holy crap, are you kidding? Sure hope the baby is OK. Please give it up to adoption and let the child have a good life. Hope the mom can turn her life around, but she clearly is not fit to be a mother at this point, maybe if she can get help she can try to be mother again in the future. Do the right thing state officials and please don't condemn the child to a hard life. "

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