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.