This is one mom who won't be paying any child-support

Eugene mom guilty of blowing marijuana smoke into children
07:12 AM PDT on Friday, August 6, 2004

Associated Press


EUGENE, Ore. -- A mother who attempted to calm her children by blowing
marijuana smoke into their lungs has been sentenced to almost three years in
prison.


Rebecca Marie Best, 27, pleaded guilty Thursday to two counts of application
of a controlled substance to the body of another. Other charges were dropped
in a plea deal.


The crimes happened virtually every time the children visited their mother
in 2003, said Debra Vogt, a deputy district attorney in Lane County.


The father has custody of the children, ages 6 and 8.


A neighbor suspected the activity and reported it to the children's
stepmother, who relayed it to the children's father. He questioned the
children and then reported it to police, Vogt said.


In police interviews, the children reported their mother said she wanted
them to "settle down," although the children said they were usually engaged
in normal play when their mother would get out the marijuana pipe, Vogt
said.


"She seals her mouth over theirs and then blows it down their throats," Vogt
said. "It happened many times."


When Best learned police were investigating, she fled to her former home in
Tennessee, where she was found.


Best initially told police she gave the children marijuana after they caught
her smoking it and became curious. She later admitted the children were
being truthful.


Defense lawyer Herb Evans said Best's offenses were "egregious" and will
have a lasting psychological impact on the children.


However, he questioned the wisdom of spending tax dollars to imprison a
woman with lifelong mental problems when she agreed in a settlement proposal
to terminate her parental rights, never see the children again and
voluntarily commit herself for mental health treatment.


Evans submitted mental health records documenting Best's diagnoses of
schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder from repeated early childhood
sexual abuse, panic disorder, agoraphobia, borderline personality disorder,
marijuana dependence and low intelligence.


Evans also documented her history of suicide attempts, self-mutilation and
depression.


"Maybe the easy way out is three years in prison," Evans told Lane County
Judge Ted Carp.


Though he described Best's conduct as "clearly evil," the judge said he was
moved by her plight. But he said there are no suitable alternatives for
keeping her in the community to deal with her issues.


"There is no plan I can look to that would lead to any positive result," he
said.

Online at:
http://www.kgw.com/news-local/storie...a_mom.4e1254ff
..html


Tracy
~~~~
http://www.hornschuch.net/tracy/