Daycare worker 'drugged' children with sleep aid melatonin to go tanning

[Jabberwocky]

A US daycare worker has been sentenced to 21 years in jail for ?drugging? young children with sleep supplements so she could go tanning.


January Neatherlin had been running an illegal child care business called Little Giggles from her house in Bends, Oregon for almost five years.

In that time, the 32-year-old had lied to parents about being a registered nurse, but had no qualifications in the field.

Neatherlin was arrested in March 2017, after Bends police received a tip-off about her behaviour from one of her former roommates and an ex-boyfriend.

During their surveillance, officers witnessed her leaving the house numerous times while seven children were in her care, The Oregonian reports.

In one instance, she drove her own children to school. Another time, she was found at a local tanning business.

The infants and toddlers she was supposed to be watching at the time - one of whom was just six months old - were found to have the sleeping aid melatonin in their systems.

Neatherlin reportedly told parents they couldn?t pick up their children during these periods because it was their ?nap time?.

This wasn?t the only troubling incident to have taken place at Little Giggles.

According to The Bulletin, parents and grandparents claimed Neatherlin had ignored and abandoned their children during their time in her care.

There were also reports of nappy rash and malnutrition.

Neatherlin was accused by some families of causing physical harm to children.

One girl had been ?violently shaken?, her parents said during a hearing on Friday, while another baby was burned by scalding milk after Neatherlin overheated the bottle.

In February, Neatherlin pleaded guilty to 11 counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment and one count of third-degree assault.

Last week, she was sentenced to 21 years and four months behind bars.

Prior to her sentencing, she offered a tearful apology to parents, grandparents and children that had attended the hearing, saying she had let them down.

?I loved all my day care kids as my own, and I believe they loved me and enjoyed hanging out with me ? but I failed you all,? she told them.


Source: https://honey.nine.com.au/2018/03/12/13/00/daycare-worker-melatonin

 

[cj]

What about the responsibility of parents to not leave your kids at an unlicensed daycare center.

 

[zephyr]

I dunno about the US system but here theres a childcare tebate available as its way too expensive for e eryday use by working parents and the rebate is only given if you use a proper licensed daycare centre. They are heavily regulated, even home buisness daycare. All are registered through the government.


Im suprised she got away with it for so long.

 

[Tombs]

I'm sure I'm going to catch a lot of flak for this but 21 years for melatonin supplements?

I've been to court with repeat sexual offenders who haven't gotten half this time. Shit, Jared of SubWay fame got 16 years for actually fucking kids and possessing gigabytes on top of gigabytes of child porn - literally THOUSANDS of victims. That's what that sick fuck meant by Eat Fresh?

I'm also not advocating for zero punishment. I understand drugging kids is fucked up and the level of negligence displayed is also, but man wouldn't a 4 year sentence with mandatory therapy serve her and the community much better? She can get out and help society as opposed to being a tax burden for over two decades.

 

[cj]

I'm sure I'm going to catch a lot of flak for this but 21 years for melatonin supplements?

I've been to court with repeat sexual offenders who haven't gotten half this time. Shit, Jared of SubWay fame got 16 years for actually fucking kids and possessing gigabytes on top of gigabytes of child porn - literally THOUSANDS of victims. That's what that sick fuck meant by Eat Fresh?

I'm also not advocating for zero punishment. I understand drugging kids is fucked up and the level of negligence displayed is also, but man wouldn't a 4 year sentence with mandatory therapy serve her and the community much better? She can get out and help society as opposed to being a tax burden for over two decades.

I agree 21 years is over the top. Highlights the problem with our "justice" system. 21 years is 1/4th of her life. That's a big chunk for no one getting hurt

 

[belligerent drunk]

There's more she had done than give melatonin to the children. Neglect and potential physical abuse, and running an unlicensed center. I think that might explain the lengthy sentence. Still, 21 years... Damn, these people love putting their peers behind bars.